How To Clean Makeup Brushes Naturally

You tried a cleaning solution of water, Dawn, and vinegar to clean your makeup brushes. 

But the heck is- your makeup brushes seem dirty, like a buildup of bacteria that builds up on them. 

Sorry. We can’t see bacteria with our naked eyes, but your skin will react to it if the makeup brushes remain uncleaned. 

You need to clean the makeup brushes effectively to protect your skin. And this guide will walk you through 5 foolproof methods to clean your makeup brushes. 

Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

• How To Clean Makeup Brushes Naturally? 
  • Method 1. Clean With Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
  • Method 2. Baby Shampoo & Warm Water
  • Method 3. Dish Soap + Olive Oil
  • Method 4. Solid Cleansing Soap (in a Tin)
  • Method 5. Clarifying Shampoo or Bar Soap (Zote/Dove)
• Conclusion

How To Clean Makeup Brushes Naturally?

To clean your makeup brushes thoroughly, wet the brush in lukewarm water. Then, apply a gentle cleanser or shampoo to the brush and run it on the surface. 

When the makeup starts getting out, run the makeup brush between your fingers and rinse it under tap water. Wash the brush thoroughly until the water runs clear. Squeeze out the excess water and dry the brush with a towel. 

Finally, lay the brush flat to dry and hang it off the edge of a counter to maintain the shape of the bristles in order. 

Now, I will break down the five best cleaning methods to clean the makeup brushes like a pro.

Method 1. Clean With Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap

By far, the best method to clean my makeup brushes. I use the Castile soap often (2x per month) to clean my makeup brushes. I love this because of its natural ingredients and deep-cleaning power.

What You Will Need:

• Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
• Scrubber

How To Clean Makeup Brushes With Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap?

• Begin by wetting your brush with warm water.
  
• Put a few drops of castile soap on your scrubber.
  
• Scrub away the makeup brush over the scrubber by running warm water over it. The natural ingredients of this soap will cut through oils and pigments. Add a few drops of this soap and keep rinsing the brush until all the suds come off or the water runs clear.
  
• Let the brush dry using a clean towel. Then, hang the makeup brush at the edge of a counter.
  
• Use this method 2x per month to keep your makeup brushes clean. 

Method 2. Baby Shampoo & Warm Water

A gentle and effective method for everyday cleaning, especially for sensitive skin and beauty blenders.

Steps:

1. Wet your makeup brush under lukewarm water.
2. Add a small drop of baby shampoo to the palm of your hand or a silicone brush mat.
3. Swirl the brush gently to create a lather.
4. Rinse thoroughly under running water until the water runs clear.
5. Squeeze out excess water with a clean towel.
6. Reshape the brush and lay it flat to dry overnight.

Method 3. Dish Soap + Olive Oil

Perfect for deep cleaning dense or heavily soiled brushes, like foundation and cream product brushes.

Steps:

1. Mix equal parts dish soap (like Dawn) and olive oil on a plate or shallow bowl.
2. Dip the brush into the mixture and swirl gently.
3. Work the mixture through the bristles using your fingers or a silicone mat.
4. Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water.
5. Repeat the rinse to ensure no oily residue remains.
6. Pat dry with a towel, reshape, and lay flat to dry.

Method 4. Solid Cleansing Soap (in a Tin)

Great for travel or quick cleaning—compact, easy to use, and mess-free.

Steps:

1. Wet your brush under warm water.
2. Swirl the wet brush directly onto the solid soap surface in the tin.
3. Use a brush mat or your palm to lather and remove pigment.
4. Rinse thoroughly with water until clean.
5. Gently blot with a towel and lay flat to dry.

Method 5. Clarifying Shampoo or Bar Soap (Zote/Dove)

Simple and budget-friendly—works with products you already have at home.

Steps:

1. Wet your brush under warm water.
2. Gently rub the bristles against the bar of soap or lather a small amount of clarifying shampoo in your palm.
3. Massage and swirl to remove buildup.
4. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
5. Squeeze out extra water, pat dry, and lay flat to dry.

Conclusion

Cleaning a makeup brush is not complicated or expensive. I introduce you to the five best cleaning methods to clean your makeup brushes. 

You can try any of them to keep your makeup brushes clean. But, I suggest you use Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap to clean the makeup brush. This cleaning soap is organic and natural. Plus, it’s super cheap compared to a shampoo. 

However, it’s up to which cleaning methods you are going to try. Most importantly, you need to clean the makeup brush consistently, like 2x per month. 

A cleaning makeup brush means a cleaner skin and better makeup results. 

Read Also:

• How to Clean Makeup Brushes with Vinegar?
• How To Clean Makeup Brushes With Dawn?