For makeup and skincare enthusiasts alike, having clean and well-maintained brushes ensures streak-free and flawless application of your favorite products. There are several reasons why cleaning your brushes weekly and monthly can have great benefits: 

  1. When brushes are not washed often, they collect and grow bacteria, which can easily transfer to your face and makeup products. This can lead to breakouts and skin irritation.
  2. Clean brushes perform better. The less buildup your brush bristles have, the better your makeup will look.
  3. Your brushes are an investment. Maintaining your brushes will make them last longer.

If you are scratching your head right now because you aren’t sure how to clean your brushes — no worries! We have a simple daily, weekly, and monthly routine designed to keep your brushes soft, clean, and conditioned, plus some tips and tricks for makeup artists and estheticians.

TOP BRUSH CARE TIPS:

  • Do not submerge your brushes in water or alcohol. This can weaken the glue in the ferrule that holds the bristles together. 
  • Do not use alcohol or alcohol-based cleaners to clean your brushes unless you are a professional makeup artist and must do so while in between clients. Alcohol can destroy your brushes if used incorrectly, especially if brushes are dipped directly into it. If alcohol travels to the glue in the ferrule, it can cause the fibers to fall out. Alcohol “eats” the vegan glue used in many brushes, including ANISA Beauty brushes. For personal use, we strongly recommend avoiding alcohol-based cleaners. For professionals who must use alcohol to clean brushes between clients, please see our Pro Cleaning Tips below.
  • For washing away tough stains and heavy cream/liquid product buildup, add a dime-sized amount of dish soap directly to the brush head and work it into the bristles using your hands or Brush Cleaning Pad without any water. Then, rinse and repeat as needed.
  • Yes, you should care for your makeup brushes differently than your skincare brushes! See below for specific how-to’s. For ALL brushes, we suggest cleaning with soap and water every week or every two weeks.
  • If your brush head is slightly misshaped upon delivery, it can be easily fixed. The brush head will return to its original head shape by washing and reshaping the brush head using your hands after it’s rinsed clean & laying the brush flat to dry.

PRO CLEANING TIPS FOR MAKEUP ARTISTS & BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS:

For makeup artists who need to use alcohol-based cleaning methods to disinfect brushes between clients, we recommend taking the following steps:

  • While holding your brushes so the brush head is downwards, spray the brush head with your alcohol-based cleaner to fully saturate the brush head. Flip the brush over to coat all sides evenly at once.
  • Then, immediately wipe your brush head using gentle back-and-forth motions onto an old towel or paper towel.
  • Repeat until your bristles stop depositing buildup onto your towel – this indicates your brush is adequately cleaned for your next client.
  • Lightly squeeze your brush head with a clean towel area, then reshape and lay flat to dry. This will help speed up the drying process so that the brush is ready for your next client.
  • Do not use it on your next client until the brush is fully dry.
  • After you're finished work for the day, wash any brushes you used with alcohol ASAP — using gentle soap and water to ensure traces of alcohol are removed ASAP.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES:

Daily/Weekly Clean:

  • Use an, alcohol-free brush cleaner for a quick clean that doesn’t require drying time.

Weekly/Monthly Clean:

  • Use a mild soap, shampoo, or brush cleaner, like Quick Dry.
  • Add the brush cleaner directly to the brush head.
  • Without adding any water, work the brush cleaner into the brush fibers.
  • For faster deep cleaning, use a silicone brush cleaning pad, like the Brush Cleaning Pad.
  • Rinse thoroughly with water.
  • Squeeze excess water from fibers and gently reshape the brush head.
  • Lay flat to dry.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SKINCARE BRUSHES:

After Each Use:

  • If lightweight product, clean or wipe brush with a clean tissue or towel.
  • If heavier product, an alcohol-free brush cleaner for a quick clean that doesn’t require drying time.
  • If used with pigmented and/or acid/oil-based formula, we highly recommend following the below "Weekly/Monthly Clean" instructions after each use to avoid staining.

Weekly/Monthly Clean:

  • Use a mild soap, shampoo, or brush cleaner, like The Wash.
  • Add the brush cleaner directly to the brush head.
  • Without adding any water, work the brush cleaner into the brush fibers.
  • For faster deep cleaning, use a silicone brush cleaning pad, like the Brush Cleaning Pad.
  • Rinse thoroughly with water.
  • Squeeze excess water from fibers and gently reshape brush head.
  • Lay flat to dry.
  • Do not reuse until the brush is completely dry.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TREATMENT TOOLS:

  • For the Bean (zinc alloy tool) and Roller, simply wipe with a damp cloth or tissue after each use.
  • For the Drop (gel silicone tool), rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry after each use.
  • For all 3 tools, do not clean with hot water or submerge in water. Not recommended to refrigerate or freeze.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR MAKEUP BAGS & POUCHES:

  • Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth to remove any product residue, then pat dry.
  • For stubborn stains, use a mild, alcohol-free cleaner with a microfiber cloth.