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This homemade makeup brush cleaner has a special ingredient that makes it even better!
I am always sharing skincare tips on instagram, and I have had many questions about makeup brush cleaners and what I use.
This is such a simple and easy solution to make, but will keep your brushes clean and sanitary to use!
Homemade Makeup Brush Cleaner With Special Ingredient
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tsp dawn dish soap (read below in chemistry section for substitutions)
- 5 drops peppermint oil
- Silicone trivet pad
- Microfiber cloth
Directions:
- Mix everything in a jar, then add your brushes. This solution works for about three large brushes and four to five small ones.
- Soak brushes for about 10 minutes, then scrub the brush on the silicone pad to remove any lasting makeup.
- Rinse brush under warm water.
- Press brush on a microfiber cloth to remove excess water.
- Fan out brushes, then lay out on towel until dry (usually takes overnight to dry completely)
P.S – I love these types of brushes and also the brand Real Technique which you see in the pictures. They are my favorite! You can check them out below.
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Chemistry Behind This Homemade Makeup Brush Cleaner:
Our readers really love reading the chemistry behind these solutions. And I love sharing it! Everything makes more sense when you can see the science behind it 🙂
Soap
I always use dawn dish soap like I explained in this post. It has always done the best at removing all the stuck on makeup and grim. You can use the dawn platinum which is even better, but dawn ultra also works great for this.
If you want a more natural like soap, you can use castile soap! Increase the amount to about 2-3 tsp though.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is a really great anti-fungal. It was one of the key ingredients to keeping mold away in this post! I love using a little peppermint oil for brush cleaning because of all the antimicrobial benefits it provides, but it also smells so good! This special and key ingredient will make sure your brushes are completely sanitary which helps eliminate breakouts.
Water
Plain tap water is just fine for this DIY. You don’t need to worry about using distilled. Warm water is also an important aspect to this recipe to activate the soap!
Why Is This Particular Homemade Makeup Brush Cleaner The Best?
I have tried many different ratios and ingredient options for cleaning makeup brushes, but this DIY recipe has been the best for removing all the makeup and making brushes clean. The combination of warm water and 1 tsp of dish soap is enough to clean the brush without leaving suds. Adding in peppermint oil enhances this solution to make it antimicrobial and leave a pleasant smell. If you have tried similar recipes, I would definitely try out ours! The silicone trivet is also a fantastic addition to cleaning brushes!
I have shared this on instagram stories before, and here are a few questions I have received:
FAQS about creating this DIY Makeup Brush Cleaner
Feel free to browse this questions, but if you have one not listed, leave a comment below for me!
Do I need the silicone pad?
No, but it does such a good job of cleaning and removing anything deep inside brushes! They can be used for so many things around the house, so I recommend getting some to have on hand. You can definitely just rinse the brushes, but I like this method best.
Is the microfiber cloth necessary for drying?
Microfiber has so many good properties as an anti-fungal, but it also removes excess water really well. This isn’t necessary, but can help the drying process. I love using microfiber for everything!
How many brushes does this clean?
This is good for a few large brushes and maybe four small ones. You can easily double this!
Will any soap work?
Again, I love dawn because it works so well after testing many types. I mentioned above you can use anything you have on hand even Castile soap.
How often should I use this?
I clean my brushes every few weeks depending on how often they are used.
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Thank you for this I was only talking to my daughter last Friday about cleaning my make up brushes
This is a great homemade option! It smells so good too!
This is great – easy to source ingredients/equipment, and easy to use! and I love the smell of peppermint!
I do too! It smells so fresh and clean!
Wow, I can’t believe how quickly this cleaned my brushes! It didn’t feel like a chore. Thank you for the recipe. And the smell of the peppermint is lovely.
It really does clean them so well! Glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂 the peppermint scent is my favorite part!
Thanks for sharing！I really appreciate this. i have been meaning to buy some brush cleaner but I would much rather make it!
I’ve read that you should not wet the base of the brush where it meets handle because it might affect the glue that holds the brush bristles to the handle. Nor rinse the bush by immersing in water deeper than the length of the bristle to just short of the handle.
I have never had an issue with my brushes and have used this method for about 5 years on these particular brushes. Drying them on a microfiber cloth helps absorb any moisture. My makeup girl told me the key is dry them by laying them down, not standing them up to dry.