How to Clean Makeup Brushes

I cleaned some of my makeup brushes today and decided to share my method.  It only takes 3 or 4 easy steps and 1 kitchen tool for me to get my makeup brushes clean.

About 2 years ago, I looked up "how to clean makeup brushes" on Youtube and came across tutorials that used this oven mitt-looking cleaning tool.  I was definitely interested in purchasing the glove...until I saw the price.  It was and still is $35! For an oven mitt with bumps and grooves in it?  Granted, the Youtube beauty gurus made the oven mitt look magical, but $35?  Really?  So I went on the hunt at HomeGoods and got my silicone oven mitt with little bumps on it for $4.95.  Woot Woot! 

Supplies: 

1. Olive Oil or Jojoba Oil
2. Oven Mitt (Not required, you just might have to work a little harder to get between the bristles)
3. Castile Soap, Dawn Liquid Dish Detergent, or Baby Shampoo
4. 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (Optional, but highly recommended)

Steps:

1. I dip my brush into the olive oil or jojoba oil and work the oil into my brush with the oven mitt to try to remove as much makeup as I can.  I only use a teeny-tiny amount of oil.  I use olive oil and jojoba oil because I have used them on my face before and I know my skin doesn't react to either oil.  If you have reactions to either oil or are allergic I would recommend skipping this step.
   
2. I rinse as much of the oil off as I can, then I pour a tiny amount of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap onto the mitt and work my brush into the soap to create an great lather.  I've also used baby shampoo and Dawn Liquid Soap, but I only had castile soap on hand today.
3. Next, I swirl the bristles of my brush on a CLEAN towel to dry it as much as possible.  
4. This step is optional, but I highly recommend it.  To disinfect and help the bristles dry a little more quickly, I dip my clean brushes into a cup filled with Isopropyl Alcohol and swirl the brush on a clean towel to remove any residual oil or residue.
5. Lastly, I re-shape my brushes and lay them flat to allow them to dry.  They usually dry within a few hours and are ready to use by the next morning.

You can find numerous tutorials and videos online on how to clean makeup brushes, but this is the method that has worked the best for me the last few years.  Washing makeup brushes not only helps keep your skin clear but it helps your eyeshadow, blush, and powders apply more evenly and the colors are less muddy compared to makeup applied with dirty brushes.

I know everyone has their preferred method so let me know how you clean your makeup brushes.   Also, if you purchased the Sigma glove let me know how well it works for you.  I'm really curious!