Forums > Hair, Makeup & Styling > brush cleaner??

Makeup Artist

Dorota MUA

Posts: 82

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

I have got quite big collection of brushes & cleaning beaconing a little nightmare just because of the costs of high street brush cleaners... I am using now the MAC brush cleaner - which last for me only for 2 cleaning...

Do you know about any cheap brush cleaners? have you heard about any bulk brush cleaners? (note: I am too busy for the DIY ideas, it must be ready made or for diluting, and of course be antibacterial)

I would be grateful for any tips, ideas or links for brush cleaners.

Oct 16 12 06:00 am Link

Model

Magda Kulpinska

Posts: 688

Paris, Île-de-France, France

I just worked with a MUA who used ''l'eau ecarlate''. Im not sure how you translate it but it's really cheap (it's popular paint-brush cleaner) but safe to use. You can get it in places like castorama.

Good luck!

Oct 16 12 08:09 am Link

Makeup Artist

Danielle Blazer

Posts: 846

Los Angeles, California, US

You can always use alcohol that's 70% or higher.

Oct 16 12 09:08 am Link

Makeup Artist

M_M_MU

Posts: 211

Seattle, Washington, US

While you say you're too busy for DIY brush cleaner, I mixed up a batch about a year ago and I still have only used half of it. It only takes about 10 minutes to make it, so it's not a huge time investment. If you find yourself purchasing brush cleaner monthly, you're spending more time buying it premade than you would spend making a couple gallons yourself.

Oct 16 12 10:08 am Link

Makeup Artist

ThirdEyeMakeup

Posts: 316

Los Angeles, California, US

Magda Kulpinska wrote:
I just worked with a MUA who used ''l'eau ecarlate''. Im not sure how you translate it but it's really cheap (it's popular paint-brush cleaner) but safe to use. You can get it in places like castorama.

Good luck!

Honestly, Eau Ecarlate is just too strong- the fumes themselves are extremely unhealthy. I can't imagine the damage it would do to your hands and brushes. Maybe it's ok to clean paint brushes for oil painting that you then use on a canvas, but not for brushes that you use on a person's skin.

I use Parian Spirit to break down and disinfect, then i clean my brushes with a cheap conditioning shampoo from Suave. It's one thing to kill germs, but i believe you also have to rinse all that stuff out. It will also help your brushes last longer.

Oct 16 12 10:26 am Link

Makeup Artist

Dorota MUA

Posts: 82

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

M_M_MU wrote:
While you say you're too busy for DIY brush cleaner, I mixed up a batch about a year ago and I still have only used half of it. It only takes about 10 minutes to make it, so it's not a huge time investment. If you find yourself purchasing brush cleaner monthly, you're spending more time buying it premade than you would spend making a couple gallons yourself.

Could you tell me more?? what products & what proportions are you using to get it right??

\too be honest I wasn't a fan of washing brushes in soaps, shampoos etc  because it (excessive washing) weakens the glue... I liked more liquids like clinique or MAC cleansers ( I always using & diluting liquids on the clingue buttle with pump)

Oct 16 12 12:29 pm Link

Body Painter

Lisa Berczel

Posts: 4132

New Castle, Pennsylvania, US

Welcome to MM - This topic comes up from time to time - a Sendu Search brings up several good reads: https://www.sendu.me.uk/modelmayhem/?te … rt_order=0

One of the links includes a recipe on the final post: https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thre … st17441426

Oct 16 12 12:55 pm Link

Makeup Artist

M_M_MU

Posts: 211

Seattle, Washington, US

Dorota MUA wrote:

Could you tell me more?? what products & what proportions are you using to get it right??

\too be honest I wasn't a fan of washing brushes in soaps, shampoos etc  because it (excessive washing) weakens the glue... I liked more liquids like clinique or MAC cleansers ( I always using & diluting liquids on the clingue buttle with pump)

I haven't had any brush problems myself, but perhaps it has more to do with the particular make of brush than anything. Here is the recipe that I followed:

http://plannedresilience.net/recipe-kor … h-cleaner/

One bit of advice. Be cautious about the fragrances that are in each product. First, it can smell awful once mixed (discovered this my first small batch). Plus, I'm sure that your kit, like most of ours, is full of products that you choose to be reasonably hypoallergenic. Putting a bunch of fragrance on the brushes may be the same as having fragrance in the products. I would suggest using products with minimal fragrance, or even fragrance free products (hard to find in shampoos/conditioners though).

Oct 16 12 05:17 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Denise

Posts: 1926

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Dorota MUA wrote:

Could you tell me more?? what products & what proportions are you using to get it right??

\too be honest I wasn't a fan of washing brushes in soaps, shampoos etc  because it (excessive washing) weakens the glue... I liked more liquids like clinique or MAC cleansers ( I always using & diluting liquids on the clingue buttle with pump)

When washing/shampooing brushes, you shouldn't immerse them, the water should not come above the ferrule. I wet the brush bristles, pour a little shampoo in the palm of my hand, and then massage the brush back & forth in my hand. I rinse the bristles/head of brush only in water until it runs clear and then squeeze out excess water and lay brush flat to dry so bristles hang over edge of counter or a towel rolled on counter. I've still got brushes from when I first started 6 years ago. For homemade brush cleaner I used Koren Zander's recipe (look for Enkore makeup on youtube).

Oct 16 12 06:38 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Dorota MUA

Posts: 82

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Thank you! I decided to get try! smile

Oct 17 12 05:52 am Link

Makeup Artist

Elizabethmakeup

Posts: 338

Hereford, England, United Kingdom

Makeup by Dani B wrote:
You can always use alcohol that's 70% or higher.

+1 and it doesn't ruin your brushes.

Oct 17 12 07:04 am Link

Photographer

Sungoddess Studios

Posts: 5191

Keyport, New Jersey, US

Makeup by Dani B wrote:
You can always use alcohol that's 70% or higher.

that's what Clinique uses.

Oct 17 12 08:04 am Link

Makeup Artist

Dorota MUA

Posts: 82

Leeds, England, United Kingdom

just ordered 99% alcohol on ebay (buy 2 get 1 free) so I paid in overall 30 pound for 6 litres. not bad smile

Oct 17 12 09:00 am Link

Makeup Artist

ThirdEyeMakeup

Posts: 316

Los Angeles, California, US

Denise wrote:
When washing/shampooing brushes, you shouldn't immerse them, the water should not come above the ferrule. I wet the brush bristles, pour a little shampoo in the palm of my hand, and then massage the brush back & forth in my hand. I rinse the bristles/head of brush only in water until it runs clear and then squeeze out excess water and lay brush flat to dry so bristles hang over edge of counter or a towel rolled on counter.

That's exactly what i do too and my brushes are like new.

Oct 17 12 10:34 am Link

Makeup Artist

Callie Gay

Posts: 2

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

I use baby shampoo and a drop of baby oil. Used to use the MAC brush cleaner but it got too expensive and in comparison, baby shampoo cleans better, especially for foundation brushes.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= … =1&theater

Oct 17 12 04:37 pm Link

Photographer

Miz Lulu Photo

Posts: 141

Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

I use the brush cleaner from elf and it works great for me

Oct 22 12 09:16 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Makeup by Marisa Ross

Posts: 386

Atlanta, Georgia, US

+1 on the alcohol if you're in a pinch and don't have time to get regular cleaner. I use Laura Mercier's brush cleaner.

Oct 23 12 03:38 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Cindy Nguyen MUA

Posts: 31

Huntington Beach, California, US

I love to use Parian Spirit brush cleaner for all my makeup brushes. It cleans the natural hair and synthetic brushes extremely well. It is a bit pricy, but all worth it. In addition to do wash my brushes with shampoo/conditioner for makeup brushes and this keep all my brushes very sanitary at all times. smile Hope this helps.

Cindy Nguyen MUA

Oct 23 12 10:28 pm Link

Makeup Artist

Ms BSK

Posts: 886

Brooklyn, New York, US

I like Master's Brush Cleaner. I use very little of it. The large tub cost me $25 from the art store but it has lasted almost two years. It is a solid soap and get's all of the color out of my white brushes. In a pinch I use Cinema Secrets.

Oct 24 12 09:36 pm Link

Makeup Artist

LC Makeup and Styling

Posts: 90

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Seriously, on one of Kim kardashians makeup tutorials, the MUA said that all you need is warm water and shampoo, then rinse off.  Thats what I do now and my brushes are still like new.

Oct 25 12 10:05 pm Link

Model

Julia Steel

Posts: 2474

Sylvania, Ohio, US

i just use baby shampoo, works fine for me

Oct 26 12 02:09 pm Link