How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes, Hair, Beauty Tools, and More

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Confession: I have a tendency to put off doing tasks until the last-minute, until my brain feels like it’s going to burst from all the procrastination guilt. The same applies when it comes to makeup — as much as I like to go through the entire choreography from primer to setting spray, I admittedly don’t wash my tools frequently enough. While I could (somewhat) get away with it during my high school & college days, in recent years I’ve noticed that my skin has become ultra-sensitive. Safe to say, I knew I couldn’t get away with ignoring my dirty makeup brushes anymore, and I decided it was finally time to learn how to properly clean each of my beauty tools once & for all. But first, there are a few burning questions that need answers.

How Often Should I Clean My Makeup Brushes (& Other Beauty Tools)?

This may stress some people out but according to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should be cleaning your makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days to keep bacteria buildup at a minimum, otherwise you could experience acne, rashes, and muddy makeup application. Of course, this depends on how often you wear makeup and whether you’re jumping between different color products. Other beauty tools like gua shas, red light therapy and micro current devices, and tweezers or nail scissors should be sanitized after every use. But don’t worry, it’s not as time consuming as you might think (especially with our selection of solutions). 

So, after hours of combing through the internet for the best beauty cleaning solutions, I’m here on my little digital soapbox to share my findings. From solutions for your makeup brushes & sponges to your hairbrush, red light therapy mask, NuFACE device & more, I’ve curated the best problem-solving picks for getting your fave beauty tools squeaky clean. This even includes beauty tools based on material, such as your silicone scrubber, jade roller, or metal tweezers. Every pick is available on Amazon and is backed by tons of positive shopper reviews.

If you’re ready to see and feel the difference in your beauty regime, let’s get right into it!