How to Clean Makeup Brushes Using an Ultrasonic Cleaner

Why Should You Clean your Brushes?

Everything you own needs cleaning after some time, and makeup brushes are not different, especially that they’re directly in contact with your skin!

If some of us forget to remove the makeup on our face, what about the makeup on our brushes? It is a fact that most of us tend to forget about cleaning makeup brushes more often than not. You wake up every day, use those fluffy, soft bristles to do the magic, and head out. But these brushes will put you at risk of skin problems if they continue to stay dirty.

Here are some issues you may face if you don’t clean your brushes regularly:

1- Clogged Pores

Your skin has oils present on it known as sebum. So every time you sweep those bristles across your face, some oil and dead skin cells accumulate on them. This accumulated gunk makes the pores on your skin clogged up, causing whiteheads and much more.

This is why a dirty brush does more damage to your skin in the long run than making it pretty. It is even more dangerous for your skin if more than one person is using the same brush.

2- Bacterial Infections: 

Makeup brushes can quickly become a place for bacteria to thrive in. You may not see the brush becoming dirty, but the bacteria are there, and they will eventually cause acne and breakouts.

When you use the spreading action on your face with these brushes, you’re distributing acne-causing bacteria all over your face. Yikes!

3- Streaky Application:

Not only do dirty makeup brushes cause skin problems, but they also make your makeup look streaky. Since other products are present on the bristles, they don’t apply foundation or other products as smooth as they normally would.

So before you think your brushes are no good anymore, do clean them and see the difference!

4- Keeps Brushes Soft:

Cleaning your makeup brushes also keeps them soft and fluffy. Accumulated products like foundations and other creamy stuff dry and harden the soft bristles of your brush.

Not only does this create a streaky and patchy look, but it can also irritate your skin and cause redness. Moreover, your brushes will last longer and stay soft if you remember to wash them.

Hence, you must take care of your brushes that you invested so much money in. Your skin will also be thankful!

What’s the Best Way to Clean Makeup Brushes?

Cleaning makeup brushes may prove tiresome for those of you who tend to be lazy. Getting those products which are set deep within the hundreds of bristles can be a bit difficult and requires a lot of washing and scrubbing. This is why most of us don't clean or wash makeup brush often, or do a poor job when we try to.

Fortunately, there are a lot of products available out there to wash makeup brushes. From silicone mats to cleaning machines designed especially for brushes, the options are endless. However, the most effective yet simple way to clean your makeup brushes is by using an ultrasonic cleaning machine.

What is an ultrasonic cleaning machine, you may ask? As it is a relatively new invention, most of us don't have any experience with ultrasonic cleaners.

Well, it’s a machine that uses ultrasonic sound waves to remove dirt from different materials like clothes, fruits, vegetables, jewelry, brushes, and much more. Washing makeup brushes with this kind of machine is easy, quick, and require minimal effort.

There are a lot of legitimate ultrasonic cleaning machines available in the market, for instance, Sonic Soak. The section below will tell you how to use such machines to wash makeup brushes, and why it’s the best way to do this. 

How to Clean Makeup Brushes Using an Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine?

If you are new to this idea of using ultrasonic cleaning technology to wash items, here’s a detailed walkthrough on how you can use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean makeup brushes:

1. First off, get yourself the best ultrasonic cleaner available. One good example is Sonic Soak, which is portable, effective, lightweight, and very easy to use.
   
   You won’t only be washing makeup brushes, but a lot of other makeup tools with it too! It’ll be worth it. Plus, you don’t want to invest in a product that isn’t as effective, so be sure to do your research before purchasing one to make sure you're only buying the best ultrasonic cleaner.
   
   
2. Once you have an ultrasonic machine, gather all the brushes that you think need cleansing. This can include foundation, eyeshadow, and contouring brushes - pretty much any brush that you have used to apply any sort of makeup with.
   
   
3. Fill your ultrasonic cleaner with lukewarm tap water and drop in your brushes. Also, make sure you follow the instructions in your machine’s user manual.
   
   If you’re using a machine like Sonic Soak, then fill a container with water and add your brushes into the container along with the cleaning tool. The best thing about ultrasonic washing machines is that they are compact and come without a container. This means you can use anything as a container.
   
   
4. If you think your brushes are extra dirty, then add in some soap or detergent. Make sure it isn’t too harsh or strong. Otherwise, you’ll damage the delicate bristles of the brushes. If your brushes aren’t super unclean, then you don’t need to add in soap.
   
   Alternatively, you can add a Brush cleanser like the one from MAC, created especially to clean and condition your expensive makeup brushes. This is often an advantage of ultrasonic cleaners, as the sound waves they create have an ability to naturally clean deep inside the brushes, you don't have to add a lot of soap or detergent when washing.
   
   
5. Plugin your machine and set the timer to around eight to ten minutes, or more if you think your brushes are way overdue for a good cleansing. Turn ON the machine and wait for the timer to reach its limit.
   
   You can just turn it ON and leave. It will turn off on its own, and you don't have to worry about adding more water or anything. Ultrasonic cleaners are also eco-friendly, as they use less water and consumer far less energy when compared to traditional washing machines.
   
   
6. Take out the brushes from your machine/container. You’ll notice they are cleaner than ever, and there will be a significant difference in their appearance! If you think they’re not clean enough yet, repeat steps 3 to 4, after filling your machine or container with fresh water.
   
   However, with the best ultrasonic cleaner like Sonic Soak, you can wash and clean the brushes in one go. It produces around 50 thousand sound waves a second, making it one of the most effective ultrasonic machines in the market.
   
   
7. Rinse your clean brushes under tap water thoroughly to remove the soap and dirty water from them.
   
   
8. Gently squeeze them to remove all the excess water from them. Don’t squeeze too hard! Makeup brushes are delicate - you don’t want them to shed their bristles.
   
   
9. Wipe them with a towel and set them out to dry. You can do this by placing them on a table or stand, making sure that the bristles are hanging out from the table’s edge. Leave them this way overnight, or use a fan for faster drying. You’re done! It’s as easy as that, and you’ll end up with clean, soft, fluffy as ever makeup brushes that will be a treat to use.

You’re done! It’s as easy as that, and you’ll end up with clean, soft, fluffy as ever makeup brushes that will be a treat to use. 

Why is it Better to Use an Ultrasonic Cleaner to Wash Makeup Brushes?

We are done with how to use an ultrasonic cleaner. However, why an ultrasonic cleaner when there are other options available? Why should you use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean your makeup brushes instead of conventional methods? Below are a few reasons why this is a good idea.

1- Easy

For starters, it is pretty easy to wash makeup brushes with an ultrasonic cleaner, as you may have noticed. You won’t have to wash each makeup brush one by one, which takes a lot more time than using an ultrasonic cleaning machine. You won't have to manually scrub them and put effort into removing the makeup products from your brushes.

Just submerge all of your brushes in the water and turn on the machine. You’ll have cleaner and new-looking brushes within ten minutes, without having to even wet your hands. Simply put, it's quick, easy, and effortless.

2- Effective

Not only easy, but using the best ultrasonic cleaner is also efficient and effective. It will remove all the makeup products from each bristle of your brushes using the ultrasonic sound wave technology.

3- Removes Bacteria

The best thing? An ultrasonic cleaning machine can remove bacteria and germs from your brushes. Conventional cleaning machines and products can't clean your brushes as well as this cleaner. An ultrasonic cleaning machine cleans material on a microscopic level, and it is often used to clean surgical equipment.

So this is the best way to make sure your makeup brushes are bacteria-free and in their cleanest form.

4- Gentle

Washing makeup brushes manually can often damage them, as it requires scrubbing. However, using an Ultrasonic Cleaner will make sure your brushes get the gentlest form of cleansing, and the bristles stay intact with the brush.

The ultrasonic sound waves create tiny bubbles that implode against the dirt particles, and this wave of energy separates the unwanted particles from the brush bristles. Hence, your brushes are cleaned without any harsh actions. 

Is it Safe to Wash Brushes With an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

Not all brushes are the same. Some are made up of synthetic fibers, which are either nylon or polyester. Other brushes are made up of natural hair, which is collected from animal furs like squirrels, goats, and weasels. Are these safe to wash in an ultrasonic cleaner, though?

Yes, they are. Ultrasonic cleaners like Sonic Soak gently clean whatever material you wish to wash. You can even wash natural hair makeup brushes safely with this method.

Pro Tip: when washing brushes made up of natural hair, make sure you don't use soap or detergent that has alcohol in it, as this may damage the delicate hair. Instead, use a mild cleanser like baby shampoo. This will make sure the hair remains soft and intact.

How Often Can I Use an Ultrasonic Cleaner on Makeup Brushes?

So you've cleaned your makeup brushes. But how often should you do this? According to dermatologists, you should wash your makeup brushes at least once every week to make sure your skin is safe from breakouts and bacterial infections.

If you have oily skin, wash them twice a week. Oily skin is prone to breakouts, so you should take extra care to clean your makeup brushes if you use makeup often.

Final Words

A good makeup brush can enhance your features and transform you completely. However, a dirty makeup brush can quickly prove itself a nightmare. Creating streaky and patchy looks, they can be frustrating to work with and also put your skin at risk of acne and infections.

Hence, a good wash with an ultrasonic cleaning machine can make your brushes seem as if you just received them from the delivery guy. Not only will your makeup look smoother and flawless, but your skin will be a lot happier as well!