Did you know that you’re supposed to be cleaning your beauty tools as often as you wash your sheets or clean your countertops? And in case you haven’t been keeping up with cleaning recommendations, that’s about once a week – at least. If I’m being honest, I don’t clean my makeup brushes nearly enough. Not only are dirty brushes gross, but they’re also one of the top causes of acne and irritation. But regularly cleaning your beauty tools will keep bacteria and build up off your skin and out of your pores. Plus it will protect your investment, prolong the life of your tools and save your hard earned money.
Here’s how to keep everything from your brushes to loofahs squeaky clean.
How to Clean Beauty Tools
Dry brush
Fill a small bowl with half an inch of water. Add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil (or any essential oil you have on hand) and a little bit of liquid castile soap. Place the brush bristle-side down in the bowl and slosh it around for a minute without getting the wood wet. Rinse the bowl and fill it with plain water, then slosh the bristles again to rinse the soap off. Place the brush on a towel, bristles down, to dry.
Clarisonic
Remove the brush head. Squirt a few drops of dish soap on your fingers and scrub the bristles and crevices thoroughly. Rinse with cool water and set the brush head aside to dry overnight. Reattach to the handle once the head is completely dry.
Jade Roller
After each use, use a soft towel and warm water to wipe the roller head clean. Dry with a towel.
Once a week, sanitize your jade roller by spritzing the roller with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol or vodka and wiping clean.
Nail tools and tweezers
Metal tools should washed with antibacterial soap and water and scrubbed with an old toothbrush. Then clean the edges with a cotton ball or q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to kill any lingering bacteria.
Plastic tools like toe separators and cuticle sticks should be wiped down with rubbing alcohol after each use.
Beauty blender
Dampen your beauty blender slightly and apply a dime-sized amount of castile soap or dish liquid. Massage the soap into the sponge, focusing on the dirtiest parts. Hold the sponge under running water and continue squeezing it until the water runs clear and you don’t see any more suds. Roll the sponge on a clean towel and set aside to dry.
Curling iron and flat irons
With the iron unplugged, wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe down the surface. You may need to use several cotton balls to remove product build up and gunk. Finish by wiping off the surface with plain water and then dry with a soft cloth.
Makeup brushes
First, wet the brush head with warm water. Squeeze a bit of dish soap in the palm of your hand and swish the bristles in the soap for 30 seconds. Rinse with warm water, keeping the handle dry as best you can. Squeeze the water from the bristles and lay the brush flat on a towel to dry overnight.
Shower loofahs
After each use, rinse the loofah well and shake out any remaining water.
Once a week, soak the sponge in a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar. Let sit for five minutes then rinse well and let dry.
Plastic hair brushes and combs
Remove as much hair as possible. Dampen the brush with water, and using your hands, work a bit of shampoo into the bristles. Fill a sink with warm water and let the brush soak for 15 minutes. Rinse well and set aside to dry.
For brushes and combs with wooden parts, clean them like you would clean a dry brush (above).
Eyelash curler
Wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and wipe down all surfaces that come near your eyes. Rinse the curler with warm water and let dry overnight.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Rina Mary Allawh, M.D., a dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, skin cancer treatment and cosmetic dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Great tips!