This DIY Cleaner Will Keep Your Makeup Brushes Around for Years

When's the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? If you can't remember, you're not alone.

Experts say we should be washing our makeup brushes at least once a week—a far cry from most people's cleaning schedules. Because makeup brushes touch our faces and carry products, they have a tendency to collect bacteria, spreading it around and causing acne or dirt buildup. Not cleaning our brushes often enough can also ruin the bristles, making them not last nearly as long.

Making our beauty routines more sustainable isn't just about opting for clean beauty products—it's also taking care of what we have so we don't need to buy new items as often. When you follow the experts' advice and use a brush cleaner on a regular basis, you're keeping your skin and the planet happy.

What's great about cleaning your makeup brushes is that you don't need to buy a pricey product to get the job done. Instead, you can use some ingredients you already have at home to create the ultimate DIY brush cleaner.

Your days of gross makeup brushes are in the past. The next time your brushes need a deep clean, try this DIY brush cleaner. All you need is dish soap and organic olive oil.

DIY Brush Cleaner

If you're questioning whether you should buy a bottle of makeup brush cleaner or not, try this DIY brush cleaner first.

Dish soap—especially if it is an anti-bacterial soap—can remove old makeup from the bristles the same way it takes crusty food off your plate. Also, opt for a fragrance-free option that's gentler on the skin.

What You Need:

dish soap
organic olive oil

Instructions:

1. Pour some dish soap and a little bit of organic olive oil onto a small plate.
2. Wet your brushes.
3. Swirl the bristles around for a few seconds.
4. Once it starts to get foamy, swirl the same bristles around the palm of your hand.
5. Rinse the bristles under warm water.
6. Repeat as needed. You'll know your brushes are clean when the water runs clear!