Cleaning Brushes 101 'Everything you need to know'

[Star]

I found it dried out my brushes too. And, I might add, it has altered the shape of some brushes, particularly my #224, which is pretty much useless now, ie: the hairs are going in every which direction. I am not impressed.

[eyeshadowfreak]

I'd suggest using your face wash to clean your brushes. It's more than likely gentler than the brush cleaner, and if it can remove makeup from your face, it should be able to remove it from your brushes.

I use my Purity cleanser and it works very well on my brushes.

[foreveratorifan]

I use baby shampoo to deep clean my brushes and I only use the MAC cleaner in between the deep cleaning just to wipe off excess makeup....

i NEVER use the brush cleaner as a cleaner per se, just as a way to wipe off excess and kill any bacteria in the brushes

[martygreene]

Brush cleaner is not meant to be used full strength. In my experiance, usage of brush cleaner at full-strength is the most common usage error.

[PrettyKitty]

I never had problems and I use it straight from the bottle. I rub it 1 minute and rince.

[allie02044]

oops!! i JUST cleaned my brushes for the first time with the brush cleanser, and then left for work!! i usually use baby shampoo, but figured id give it a shot. MAN!!! I wish i could leave and wash them again, i dont want my brushes ruined. Will one time ruin them?!

[PrettyKitty]

Nop, because mine are not ruined after 7-8 X.

[foreveratorifan]

no, one time shouldn't hurt them at all!

over extended time, i can see where it would dry them out significantly.

i think that the labeling as a cleanser can sometimes be a missleading name, it should be labeled as like pre-wash or something!

[FemmeNoir]

Oh no! I only use the brush cleaner. I always dilute it, though. I don't see the point of a prewash solution.

So, what do you think is the best method for washing brushes?

Thanks!

[foreveratorifan]

i honestly do like the cleanser for inbetween deep cleanings, i don't have the time to deep wash every brush i use every day! hehehe

but when i do deep clean them, i just johnson and johnson baby shampoo, and i just wash out the bristles, rinse with luke warm water, pat dry then lay out flat....i do this once a week...

[Oonie]

I've never really had a problem with the brush cleaner. I don't dilute it either. I do rinse the brushes before using the brush cleaner, then use a small amount of it and then rinse until the water runs clear and the brush wipes clean on a paper towel. I hope I haven't ruined them doing this.

[Hikaru-chan]

I used the brush cleanser diluted with water like it says on the box. I don't know if my brushes are somehow used to facial wash and using brush cleanser reacted to that (don't know if that's even possible). When I told the MA at the counter she told me the brush cleanser doesn't do that and I must have been pulling the hairs out on purpose. I spoke to MAC's head office (and also complained about the MA rudeness to me) and they didn't seem suprised when I told them what had happened and they are sending me replacement brushes and a refund on the brush cleanser. Are they any brush cleansers on the market that don't contain alchohol?

[Janice]

I've never had any problems with the brush cleanser and IMO I don't think labeling it a "pre-cleanser" is correct. I have only used it to wash my brushes and it has always cleaned them very well.

I'm glad MAC has taken care of you, it's very generous of them to replace all of your brushes AND refund the cost of the cleanser only going on your word of what happened. Not many companies would do that.

[kissablethoughts]

I think maybe your brushes are too dry when you clean them. I usually let my brushes soak in warm water with face soap and a tiny bit of make up remover oil (sephora) then take them out and spray smashbox brush cleaner on a paper towel, lightly rub, rinse, then shape and leave flat to dry. Viola! perfect brushes

[Juneplum]

i had asked mac about how to use the brush cleanser when i first bought it, and this was their email reply... i've used it like this and have never had any problems..

"Do a deep cleaning of your brushes in a solution of 4 parts warm water to 1 part of the M·A·C BRUSH CLEANSER. Dunk your brush in this solution and swirl it around. If your brushes have a lot of product on them, then rinse them in warm water first to get some of the product off. After shampooing, rinse clean in warm tap water and squeeze out any excess water. Dry your brushes flat (not upright or the water will run down into the wood handles) and re-fluff bristles before using.

For a quick wash, you can spot-clean your makeup brushes on a tissue or paper towel that has been dampened with brush cleanser and let them dry flat.

Brush Cleanser is an excellent product for washing, sanitizing, and conditioning professional makeup brushes. It actually helps extend the life of your brushes and leaves them smelling fresh and clean while shortening the drying time."

[marilyns_firstkiss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juneplum

i had asked mac about how to use the brush cleanser when i first bought it, and this was their email reply... i've used it like this and have never had any problems..

"Do a deep cleaning of your brushes in a solution of 4 parts warm water to 1 part of the M·A·C BRUSH CLEANSER. Dunk your brush in this solution and swirl it around. If your brushes have a lot of product on them, then rinse them in warm water first to get some of the product off. After shampooing, rinse clean in warm tap water and squeeze out any excess water. Dry your brushes flat (not upright or the water will run down into the wood handles) and re-fluff bristles before using.

For a quick wash, you can spot-clean your makeup brushes on a tissue or paper towel that has been dampened with brush cleanser and let them dry flat.

Brush Cleanser is an excellent product for washing, sanitizing, and conditioning professional makeup brushes. It actually helps extend the life of your brushes and leaves them smelling fresh and clean while shortening the drying time."

that is a perfect description on how to use brush cleanser. i have had most of my brushes for over six yrs and have never had a problem with macs brush cleanser. when i work mac events i have to clean my brushes before i start with each person. you'd think it would kill my brushes, but they look like new after i use the brush cleanser. the brushes are supposed to shed to some extent as most of them are real hair. but be careful not to scrub brushes or be too rough..then they will surely fall apart.

[missbunny074]

i just bought the brush cleaner as well and i have mixed feelings about it. i found it worked pretty good on most my brushed but the #217 brush in particular seems to have split a lot and lost its shape. im defiantly going to try diluting the 3 to 1 and see how that goes.

[Celina]

I've tried this so many ways and never liked it. Just sticking to what I normally use works great for me.

[Sanne]

I noticed my 22 brush's hair where spreading out a bit, so I'll try to use a 1/5th brushcleanser, 4/5th water solution for now. so now more cleaning with a tissue...

[Star]

I have always diluted it, never used it full strength. Before this I had been using a tiny bit of liquid antibacterial soap diluted in a cup of warm water, swish around, rinse 2-3 times with warm water.

Some of my brushes have started to deteriorate (losing shape, drying out) since I started using the brush cleaner about a month ago. YMMV.

[FacesbyNiki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyKitty

I never had problems and I use it straight from the bottle. I rub it 1 minute and rince.

Yeah, I've never had a problem either. I do the same thing.

[MACreation]

Wow i never new about diluting it (no one told me ) my brushes dried out and got shaped funny and kinda rought, ugh!! Gotta do this now, how often are we supposed to get a new set of brushes anyway??

[mrskloo]

I've used it straight from the bottle too. I've tried the watered down solution but it doesn't get clean enough. So I end up just putting the cleaner directly on the brush anyways.

[perpetuallycute]

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreveratorifan

I use baby shampoo to deep clean my brushes and I only use the MAC cleaner in between the deep cleaning just to wipe off excess makeup....

i NEVER use the brush cleaner as a cleaner per se, just as a way to wipe off excess and kill any bacteria in the brushes

this is a very good way to do it - this is how I clean my brushes, and they are perfect!

[MacLover]

I use baby shampoo to deep clean my brushes. For an in between clean, I use the MAC brush cleaner. I pour some on a paper towel and then wipe my brush back and forth on the paper towel. This is how a MAC MA told me to use the brush cleaner.