How to Properly Clean Your Makeup Brushes

You'd be surprised by how much gunk can get in them.

Step 1: Wet the bristles.

Rinse the bristles under water. "Make sure you don't get water above the handle of the brush," warns Laramie. "This will loosen the glue over time." In this instance, I'm washing a face brush: Phuse Beauty Powder to the People Brush.

Step 2: Gently massage in soap.

Swipe your brush in gentle soap or brush shampoo. For this tutorial, I picked Real Techniques Gel Brush Cleanser. If you have more than one brush to wash, set each one aside after soaping it up.

Step 3: Rinse again.

Again, be sure the water doesn't touch your brush's handle.

Step 4: Squeeze the water out.

Gently press on the bristles with your fingers to release excess water.

Step 5: Let it dry.

"Lay the brush or brushes flat on a towel on the edge of a table overnight," says Laramie.

Clean brushes = effective brushes!

"Makeup brushes are the most important step of having great makeup," says Laramie. If it's been quite a while since you lathered up your own, it's time to get cleaning!