Hi, all! Thanks for stopping in! I post the best deals on anything from great shoes to beauty products to furniture. Make sure to come back daily for the best deals on the nicest things + our infertility and now pregnancy journey!
When something works SUPER well for me and I get so excited about it, I like to share it with my friends. You guys are my friends, right? Then I’ll share!
Confession: I had never cleaned my makeup brushes before. EVER. I have had some of these makeup brushes since middle school. That’s, like, at least 13 years. How old are you in middle school again? I can’t remember. But approximately 13 years. Can we still be friends? Please? I just didn’t really think I needed to. There’s two things I draw from this:
1) That’s disgusting and they should been cleaned long ago. Like long ago. I take such good care of my face. I use a Clarisonic to make sure it gets extremely clean. I use a PMD Personal Microderm so I can keep the fine lines away. I use Estee Lauder DayWear Lotion with SPF because I’ve tried all kinds of lotions and it’s just the best. And then I put brushes all over my face that were dirty! Oops.
2) It’s important to buy quality brushes because they last forever. It’s pretty impressive that I’ve had some of these brushes since I started wearing makeup. If you invest in good ones, they will last you for years and years and years. Case in point.
I got this Bobbi Brown full coverage makeup brush about 8 months ago and I love it. It is extremely high quality. I got it to use with my Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation which I highly recommend. I had used a Clinique powder for years but I noticed it would be gone by the end of the day and my face looked washed out. I also use this Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks as my blush and the combo of these two last the entire day and fixed my problem! These two new products are actually why I decided that I needed to clean my makeup brushes. They are creams instead of the powders that I had always used and so they stick to the brushes and eventually just get caked on. What was a girl to do?
The Best Way to Clean Makeup Brushes:
THIS IS THE SECRET WEAPON: Ology Pure Castile Soap. You can also buy it in peppermint here. This is the absolute BEST price you can get it at 🙂
Since I had never cleaned my brushes before, I needed to find someone to help me. An expert. My husband has an awesome cousin named Rachel Harper who just happens to be a makeup artist. She has traveled the country with Bare Minerals doing people’s makeup so I knew she would be the best person to ask! I was AMAZED at how well the castile soap worked! I mean, my makeup brushes were CAKED with my Bobbi Brown foundation and rouge. They now look brand new like on the day that I got them. Plus, I have SO much soap left and it will last me a LONG time (literally years) so I think this is the best deal on cleaning your makeup brushes as well!
STEPS TO CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES:
1. Over your bathroom sink, run some water over your makeup brush.
2. Pour a few drops of soap directly onto your makeup brush, then using your palm, swirl your makeup brush in a circular motion over your palm so the soap starts to foam.
3. Rinse the soap and makeup off in a stream of water, and repeat step 2 until the makeup is all gone!
4. Swirl the brush in a circular motion onto a soft towel, until it’s mostly dry.
5. To dry, place the brush into a jar or other container where it can dry facing upward with the bristles not touching anything.
6. Done! You’ll have the cleanest makeup brushes around!
Makeup Brushes – Before:
After cleaning my makeup brushes! I am still amazed!
Here’s to the cleanest brushes around!
UPDATE: I mixed this Castile Soap with some water in a bowl to clean out some lip balm from my carpet and it worked SO well. It cuts out greasy things amazingly well!
Heather says
January 6, 2015 at 6:16 amI was wondering how often to wash my brushes! i will listen to the tutorial : ) XOX
Jenica Parcell says
January 6, 2015 at 7:44 pmYeah if you click the link it will take you to Rachel's tutorial. It's the best! I can't believe how clean my brushes got!
Ginny says
February 2, 2017 at 8:14 pmIt is recommended that they be deep cleaned once a week, although it seems few people do that. I clean mine after every use because I can’t stand dirty brushes.
Marsha says
April 22, 2018 at 6:56 amYou wash your brushes once a week
Lauren G says
April 2, 2015 at 5:11 pmI'm a little late on this post, I know. But I just saw it on pinterest. My skin is terribly sensitve and when I tried the dish soap and olive oil I got hives… On my face..
I'm going to buy this in the highest of hopes that it'll work. Thanks so much 🙂
xox Lo
http://www.beautybylo.com
Jenica Parcell says
April 3, 2015 at 12:20 amHi Lauren, thanks for reaching out! This is supposed to be very, very gentle. In fact, they even recommend it for baby's skin. Let me know how it works! I hope it works well for you!
xo
Jenica
Roxanne Schiavo says
March 29, 2016 at 6:55 amI recommend cleaning daily, especially if you have acne issues. It for Ulta has a Brush Bath (really spray) spritz on even a wet (from foundation) brush and gently rub on a paper towel. Dry and clean. Great for in between washing.It contains lavender orange and lemon oils for antimicrobial results naturally. I also highly recommend lying brushes on their sided until dry,as to not compromise the brushes longevity.
Ririe Prameswari says
April 3, 2015 at 2:18 pmWow I really wanna try this. You know what, I always use bioderma sebium H2O to clean up all of my brushes but now I guess I need to change into Castile Soap LOL~
Anyway, I love your picture. What kind of camera do you use?
http://www.sweetlikeapeach.com
Jenica Parcell says
April 3, 2015 at 10:23 pmLet me know how you like it! I couldn't believe how well it worked. It's super gentle and can be used for so many things too!
And thank you! I use this camera: http://bit.ly/1P6j88Z – the Canon T5i and this lens – http://bit.ly/1ESRfyg. It's super affordable but makes a big difference.
Thanks for reaching out!
xo
Candace says
April 4, 2015 at 12:01 pmI always use makeup remover but that can be pricey. Will try the peppermint soap!
Jenica Parcell says
April 6, 2015 at 12:39 pmThis works better than anything that I ever tried and it last SO long so it is by far the most economical! I hope you love it as much as I do! xo
Anonymous says
May 7, 2015 at 6:08 pmDoes dr.bronners lavender castile soap work as well?
Jenica Parcell says
May 8, 2015 at 1:28 pmYes it does! 🙂
slsrox1298 says
May 9, 2015 at 2:05 pmDo a 1:1 ratio of any type of olive oil (extra virgin is best) and dish soap! The mix is super cheap and works amazingly!
Jenica Parcell says
May 18, 2015 at 1:00 pmGood to know! 🙂
Anonymous says
October 5, 2015 at 3:39 amDish soap doesn't disinfect your brushes. They'll look clean, but there is still bacteria stuck in them.
Cris Garces says
January 13, 2016 at 9:15 amWhat can you all recommend to include with this soap to disinfect the brushes? I've read rubbing alcohol and/or witch hazel are recommended. What are your thoughts on this? I have extremely sensitive to chemicals and acne-prone skin.
Cris Garces says
January 13, 2016 at 9:18 amBtw, love your name Jenica! Thanks!
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:01 pmThanks, Cris! xo
Kate Sandra says
May 17, 2015 at 2:11 pmHi Jenica,
Can you also make a tutorial on how to wash a Beauty blender?
Thanks
Jenica Parcell says
May 18, 2015 at 1:01 pmHi Kate! You would be able to use this soap on the Beauty Blender as well. Just follow the same process and it will work well!
Anonymous says
June 30, 2015 at 5:27 pmI hope it works cause that's just what I need do you have a Pinterest???;)
My name is maddie lol I'm a weirdo!:)
Jenica Parcell says
July 20, 2015 at 7:14 pmIt works really well! I've done it multiple times 🙂
Qna Georgieva says
July 21, 2015 at 12:45 amHi. 🙂 I like it. I will try.
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:01 pmAwesome! 🙂
Vanity View says
July 22, 2015 at 2:32 pmThis sounds like a great overall cleaner. I'll have to check this out! Thanks! Normally I use my beauty blender solid cleaner for all brushes. No mess, no fuss and it takes 2 seconds. Something to think about when traveling.
http://www.stephsvanityview.com
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:01 pmThank you! xo
Anonymous says
July 29, 2015 at 3:42 pmIf you lean the brushes vertically against a wall with the brush part facing down on a wash cloth, that keeps the water from warping the wood or ruining the glue in your brush so it lasts longer 🙂
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:00 pmAwesome, thank you! xo
Brook says
January 17, 2016 at 4:15 amActually the better way to dry brushes and protect the ferule/glue of the brush is to dry them by handing them up. I just hang them with rubber hair bands on a towel rack.
Using toilet paper to reshape them is cheap, easy, and SO effective. A great tutorial on how to do that is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3lwBfyV_OE&list=FLLGfF1hP8I1s1TgbN4tdN-g&index=26
Jennifer Perry says
September 30, 2015 at 1:57 pmCastile soap is a great choice when it comes to natural cleaning! I love using it as a cleaner! It definitely works very good for your bushes! Thank you for sharing! Lovely post!
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:00 pmAgreed! Thank you so much!
Shelly W says
December 23, 2015 at 4:53 pmThank you SO much for this post! I, too, am a little bit (well a lot) guilty of this as well!!! I had never heard of this brand so I am excited to try it! I know you said you love BB brushes/cosmetics-may I ask a question? It looks like you have a lot of wooden brushes, but I couldn't really see the brand-it said "Contours" possibly? Can you recommend these as well? I am truly trying to update my brushes with good quality ones. Thank you again for the post and link, and I hope you and your family has a Wonderful Holiday!!! XX Shelly
Jenica Parcell says
January 7, 2016 at 2:30 amThe other brand I've had for years and it's a brand called Nu Skin 🙂 I love Bobbi Brown though!
Unknown says
January 1, 2016 at 1:33 pmJust an FYI…brushes should be dried with the bristles over the edge of a counter or table. They will dry more evenly AND as already noted, the water does not get into the adhesive in the handle.
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 3:00 pmThank you! xo
Anonymous says
January 3, 2016 at 4:19 pmI was excited to watch the tutorial, but looks like the video has expired?
Let me know when its been renewed?
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 2:59 pmI updated the post with step-by-step instructions 🙂 Thank you!
Ashley Bowe says
January 5, 2016 at 3:40 amHey there! Just a word of advice on this brush: it's PERFECT for powder formulas. This isn't a must, obviously, but try using a synthetic brush for liquid foundation. I think you'll be surprised at how much product is NOT absorbed by synthetic brush hair compared to animal hair.
Jenica Parcell says
January 7, 2016 at 2:31 amThank you!! 🙂
Audrey says
January 9, 2016 at 2:45 amThe link to the tutorial doesn't work 🙁 I assume you just wash the brushes with the soap?
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 2:59 pmYes! I updated the post with step-by-step instructions 🙂 Thank you!
Anonymous says
January 9, 2016 at 7:21 pmHi. Just to let you know, I think the tutorial link is broken.
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 2:59 pmI updated the post with step-by-step instructions 🙂 Thank you!
Bev says
January 13, 2016 at 10:21 amI can't seen to get to the link. It says it's no longer. ..
Jenica Parcell says
January 13, 2016 at 2:58 pmI updated the post with step-by-step instructions 🙂 Thank you!
Alisha says
January 24, 2016 at 5:40 amI often struggle cutting through foundation when washing brushes so I'm hoping this works because; it looks more effective than my current baby shampoo. I have used the beauty blender solid but prefer to keep that for on the go or just my bb because it is quite pricey and in my opinion solid soaps always leave residue due to the ingredients used to make them solid so why wouldn't this one?