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Cleaning Brushes 101 'Everything you need to know'

post #1 of 608
3/8/05 at 8:03pm
Thread Starter 
Ok Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thanks for all of your great ideas and suggestions on the previous Brush Cleansing Techniques post!!! I'd like to compile another listing of what you have found that works for you, in terms of cleaning and sanitation of MU Brushes.
I found the information incrediably useful and would love to have the information accessable again.
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post #2 of 608
3/9/05 at 1:30am
• To clean it really quickly, I use baby wipes without alcohol in them.

• MAs have told me baby shampoo is good for cleaning brushes if you dont have a Brush Cleaner.

• If you do have the [MAC] Brush Cleaner, you can dilute it with water =)

Hope that helps!
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post #3 of 608
3/9/05 at 11:22am
I use the MAC brush cleaner full strength. I pour a little bit into the palm of my hand and swirl the brush in it until teh soloution is really dirty. Then I dump what's in my hand and pour in fresh cleaner. I do this until the solution doesn't cloud any more (usually 3 times or so). Then I rinse the brush out well with water. i used to stand some of them up to dry but I have since learned better.
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post #4 of 608
3/9/05 at 11:01pm
When I bought my MAC brush Cleaner the MA told me to get a clean paper towel or kleenex, put the Brush Cleaner on the brush and swipe the brush back and forth til it is clean. Then I rinse, reshape and lay flat to dry with the bristles hanging over the counter. This works great for me. When I need to clean a certain brush for color changes I use the MAC Cleanse wipes so that I don't overlap color on the brush. I just wipe the brush clean and in about a minute the brush is dry and I can apply the next shade.
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post #5 of 608
3/10/05 at 12:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MelloGeek
I was told by the NARS SA to Wash them with gentle shampoo and lay them flat to dry. I make sure that the bristles aren't leaning on anything during that process. Works like a charm!
Agrees.. That's how I do it, but instead of shampoo I use Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash .
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post #6 of 608
3/10/05 at 4:20am
I use baby shampoo and lay flat to dry after reshaping the bristles.... it's been working out pretty well for me so far.
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post #7 of 608
3/14/05 at 12:42am
This is what I do: I make my own brush cleaner by taking an empty bottle of antibacterial hand soap that hasn't been rinsed out yet and I fill it with water. Shake it up, and voila- brush cleaner that I can squirt onto my brushes. I rinse the brushes in the sink afterwards.
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post #8 of 608
3/14/05 at 12:15pm
I aim for washing mine once a week with baby shampoo and water, though I do spritz my gel eyeliner brush with brush cleaner after every use.
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post #9 of 608
4/15/05 at 1:09pm

How often do you wash your brushes?

I'm sorry if I am going a little crazy with the posts...lol. I just joined here last night and I am so excited that I have found a ton of people in one place that love MAC as much as i do! So I apologize if these questions have already been asked 1000 times. I will get caught up soon, I promise

ANyway, how often do you wash your MU brushes? Do you use the MAC Brush cleanser?

Awhile back, I was having a hard time getting paints and foundation off my brushes and the SA said she just uses antibacterial soap. I have been doing it since and it works like a charm
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post #10 of 608
4/15/05 at 6:50pm
These threads might help:

http://www.specktra.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3359

http://www.specktra.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2735

I found them using the forums search function with the words Brush and Clean.

HTH!
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post #11 of 608
4/17/05 at 5:56pm
Those are very helpful threads. Does anyone use cetaphil on their brushes? I wonder if it would work and be gentle too?

Thanks
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post #12 of 608
4/17/05 at 8:20pm
Oh God, I never have.
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post #13 of 608
4/23/05 at 6:33am
I try to wash my brushes once a week, using my M.A.C Brush Cleaner.
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post #14 of 608
4/23/05 at 8:59am
When I went to one of the MAC PRO class thing.. the lady said to wash it every 2 weeks.
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post #15 of 608
4/23/05 at 10:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by angelwings
I try to wash my brushes once a week, using my M.A.C Brush Cleaner.
:-P

Me too..
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post #16 of 608
4/23/05 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FacesbyNiki
Quote:
Originally Posted by angelwings
I try to wash my brushes once a week, using my M.A.C Brush Cleaner.
:-P

Me too..
me three
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post #17 of 608
4/23/05 at 12:06pm
I actually use Makeup forever brush cleaner (I am sure it is similar to the Mac brush cleaner) but I only wash them every 2 - 3 weeks. My MA said to consider a few things when wondering about brush cleaning:
who else uses your brushes (ie are you a MA)
how oily is your skin
how clean are your products (ie do you use your fingers in them too)
She said for me (very dry skin, only me using the brushes, and only brushes in my m/u) 2 - 3 weeks is fine. HTH
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post #18 of 608
4/23/05 at 4:30pm
not often enough *looks around*
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post #19 of 608
4/24/05 at 1:56pm
Ones for powder products - as soon as they start to look stained, every 3-4 uses. For ones used to apply cream-type products, immediately after usage. I'm a bit anal that way, and I don't want the stuff to dry and encrust the brush with hard-to-remove crap.
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post #20 of 608
4/24/05 at 3:22pm
I wash mine probably every 3-4 uses. In between, I use Brush Off to clean them.
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post #21 of 608
4/24/05 at 3:37pm
What is Brush Off? That seems promising.

I wash mine weekly, or after I use a very strong color (I hate using a lighter color like pink right after I used green on the brush... so muddy!) For brushes used to apply anthing liquid or cream, I wash them right after the initial use.
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post #22 of 608
4/24/05 at 3:40pm
brush off is the celanser most counters use.. i wouldnt ever useit on my brushes ive seen it destroy too many.
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post #23 of 608
5/15/05 at 11:11am

MAC Brush Cleanser dried out my brushes.

I bought a bottle of MAC brush cleanser the other day and washed my brushes with it. At first it seemed to work fine removing every last trace of make-up, but as the brushes dried they started to shed hairs. I used it on my 239 and my foundation brush which I've had for years and usually wash it with facial wash and have never had this problem. Whent back to the MAC store to explain what had happend and they told me the brush cleanser is to be used as a pre-wash before using baby shampoo (in which case there's little point in buying the brush cleanser). As this happened to any of you and could it be the alchohol in the brush cleanser that caused the sheding?
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post #24 of 608
5/15/05 at 11:29am
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.
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post #25 of 608
5/15/05 at 12:20pm
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.
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post #26 of 608
5/15/05 at 12:37pm
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
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post #27 of 608
5/15/05 at 12:54pm
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.
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post #28 of 608
5/15/05 at 12:58pm
I never had problems and I use it straight from the bottle. I rub it 1 minute and rince.
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post #29 of 608
5/15/05 at 12:59pm
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?!
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post #30 of 608
5/15/05 at 1:07pm
Nop, because mine are not ruined after 7-8 X.
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