Makeup Spring Clean: How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes & Declutter Your Kit

Whether you’ve just invested in your first set of quality makeup brushes or you’re giving your well-loved tools the TLC they deserve, welcome. You’re about to learn how to clean your makeup brushes and give your entire makeup kit a proper spring clean.

Knowing how to clean makeup brushes properly isn’t just about hygiene (although your skin will definitely thank you). It’s also the secret to achieving a truly flawless base. Because let’s be honest, even the best foundation struggles when it’s applied with a clogged brush.

But a true makeup spring clean goes beyond washing brushes. It’s about decluttering what no longer serves you, rediscovering the products you love, refreshing your tools, and giving your routine a fresh start.

How to Declutter Your Makeup Kit?

Before you think about deep cleaning your brushes, it’s worth giving your makeup kit a bit of a reset. A spring clean is the perfect excuse to take a proper look at what you actually use — and what’s just been quietly living at the bottom of your makeup bag for months.

First things first, check for expired products. Most makeup has a little jar symbol on the packaging that tells you how long it lasts after opening (usually on the back or base). If you cannot quite remember when you opened something and the texture, smell or colour seems a bit different, that’s usually a sign it’s time to say goodbye.

Next, think about what you realistically reach for day to day. Be brutal. If something has been sitting untouched for months, chances are it’s not really part of your routine anymore. And that’s ok. Decluttering makes it instantly easier to keep everything clean and organised.

While you are sorting everything out, take a minute to wipe down packaging, sharpen your pencils, and set aside tools that are clearly overdue a proper wash. A clean, streamlined kit makes maintaining your brushes far more realistic long-term and will make your makeup look smoother, neater and more cohesive.

How Often Do You Need To Clean Your Makeup Brushes and Sponges?

When thinking about how often you should clean your makeup brushes, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on the products you’re using and how often those brushes are in action.

If we’re being really honest, the cleaning schedule we aspire to and the one we’re actually able to stick to can be two very different things. Rather than aiming for perfection, it’s better to build habits that feel realistic.

Foundation Brushes

Foundation brushes tend to need cleaning a little more often, simply because liquid and cream formulas build up quickly.

For quick cleans, try to give them a light refresh fairly regularly — especially if it’s a brush you use every day. A quick clean can be as simple as using a gentle brush cleanser and rinsing it through.

Then every so often, give it a deeper clean. That usually means washing it properly with lukewarm water and cleanser, working the product out of the bristles until the water runs clear.

Your foundation will thank you for it.

Makeup Sponges

Makeup sponges are brilliant for creating a seamless base, but they also absorb everything: foundation, concealer, cream blush… the lot.

Because of that, it’s worth giving them a quick cleanse regularly so the product doesn’t build up inside the sponge. Every now and then, a deeper wash helps reset things completely.

If your sponge always feels damp or never seems to come fully clean, it’s probably holding onto bacteria — and that’s definitely not something you want anywhere near your skin.

Eyeshadow and Powder Brushes

Powder formulas are generally less likely to harbour bacteria quickly, so they’re a bit more forgiving when it comes to cleaning. However, pigment can still build up over time and affect how your makeup blends.

Quick cleans are especially useful if you’re switching between shades. For example, going from a soft neutral look one day to something a bit more colourful the next.

Then when the brushes start to feel a little heavy with product, give them a proper wash so they’re fresh and ready to go again.

Clean brushes really do make blending easier.

How to Clean Synthetic vs. Natural Hair Makeup Brushes?

Did you know different types of makeup brushes benefit from slightly different cleaning techniques? It’s not super complicated, though. And knowing the difference helps keep your brushes in better shape for longer.

Synthetic Brushes

Most brushes (like VIEVE’s) used for foundation, concealer and cream products are synthetic. They’re designed to be durable, which also makes them a little easier to clean.

How to clean:

Wet the bristles with lukewarm water, keeping the handle dry
Apply a gentle cleanser or dedicated brush soap
Swirl into your palm or a textured cleansing mat
Rinse until the water runs clear
Gently squeeze out excess water and reshape
Lay flat to dry

Giving synthetic brushes regular quick cleans — with the occasional deeper wash when they need it — helps keep them performing beautifully.

Natural Hair Brushes

Natural hair brushes, which are often used for powders, tend to need a slightly gentler approach.

How to clean:

Use a mild cleanser
Avoid soaking the ferrule
Rinse gently and avoid excessive pressure
Reshape carefully
Lay flat to dry completely

For these brushes, deeper cleans are often best treated as part of your overall makeup spring clean, whenever your tools are due a proper reset.

How to Clean Your Foundation Brush?

Your foundation brush does a lot of the heavy lifting in your routine — especially if you’re using liquid or cream foundations.

Giving it regular quick cleans, with the occasional deeper wash, helps keep your base looking smooth and your brush working the way it should.

Step-by-step:

Rinse bristles under lukewarm water, pointing downward
Add cleanser and work into a lather
Massage through the bristles to break down product
Rinse thoroughly
Gently squeeze and reshape
Lay flat on a towel to dry

One super important tip: avoid drying brushes upright while they’re still wet. Water can seep into the handle and loosen the glue over time.

How to Clean Your Concealer Brush?

Concealer brushes can often get overlooked when we think about cleaning your tools — but they actually need a bit of extra attention.

Concealer can be a lot thicker than foundation, causing more build-up than you may expect. They are also used most frequently right under the eyes and around blemishes, so hygiene matters.

Because concealer is often thicker in texture, make sure you:

Spend extra time breaking down the product at the base of the bristles
Rinse until there is zero residue
Fully dry before storing

How to Clean Your Makeup Sponge?

If you do nothing else during your spring clean, make sure your makeup sponge gets a proper wash.

Sponges absorb almost everything: foundation, concealer, cream blush… you name it, it’s taking it in. Keeping them clean makes a big difference to both hygiene and how your makeup applies.

Try to give your sponge regular quick cleans, and then every so often a deeper cleanse to reset it properly.

Step-by-step:

Fully saturate the sponge with lukewarm water
Apply cleanser directly onto the sponge
Squeeze repeatedly to work the cleanser through
Rinse and squeeze until the water runs clear
Air dry in a well-ventilated area

And a simple rule: if it starts to smell… it’s probably time to replace it.

How to Clean Your Eyeshadow Brush?

Eyeshadow brushes tend to collect pigment, shimmer and the occasional bit of fallout from last night’s chaos.

Quick cleans are especially helpful between intense colour changes.

How to clean:

Use a gentle cleanser
Swirl lightly to avoid fraying
Rinse and reshape
Lay flat to dry

How to Clean Your Bronzer Brush?

Your bronzer brush is all about diffusion. But when it’s holding onto layers of old powder, blending can become patchy surprisingly quickly.

How to clean:

Wet bristles with lukewarm water
Use cleanser and gently massage
Rinse thoroughly
Reshape and lay flat to dry

Why Do You Need a Good Quality, Clean Makeup Brush for Good Application?

Whether you’re applying makeup with your fingers or using a beautifully made brush, the end result always comes down to the application. Clean tools make a huge difference.

When brushes are loaded with old product, blending becomes harder, colours can look muddy, and achieving that smooth finish suddenly feels like much more effort than it should.

A makeup spring clean isn’t just about washing tools. It’s about editing your kit, letting go of what no longer works, and creating habits that feel realistic to keep up with long term.

And of course, if you discover there’s something missing from your kit along the way… that’s always a very good excuse to treat yourself to a new VIEVE makeup brush (or the whole set).

A good quality brush:

Distributes product evenly
Blends seamlessly
Gives you control
Feels better on the skin

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do you properly clean makeup brushes at home?

Use lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, focusing on the bristles rather than the handle. Rinse until the water runs clear, gently reshape the brush head and lay it flat to dry.

What is the best way to sanitise makeup brushes?

Keeping up with regular quick cleans between uses and doing a deeper wash when brushes need a reset is usually enough to keep them in great condition.

Can I use washing-up liquid to clean makeup brushes?

You can, as long asit’sa gentle formula. Try to avoid anything overly harsh or heavily fragranced, as this can dry out the bristles over time.

How often should I replace my makeup sponge?

If your sponge starts to tear, develop a smell or no longer bounce back properly after washing, it’s probably time for a replacement.

Why do my makeup brushes shed after washing?

A small amount of shedding can happen with lower-quality brushes or if water seeps into the ferrule. Keeping the handle dry and always laying brushes flat to dry can help prevent this.