We take a deep dive into what Silicone Brush cleaners are, their benefits and how to incorporate tricks and tips into your routine.
What is a Silicone Brush Cleaner?
Silicone Brush cleaners are a tool used to speed up the removal of cosmetic residue from makeup brushes during the cleaning process.
They come in many sizes, shapes, colours and designs. Used during soap and water cleaning they are durable and waterproof.
Why use them?
Silicone Brush Cleaners help to remove cosmetic products from makeup brushes and effectively clean the bristles. They help to minimise the time taken to clean brushes and therefore minimise the amount of time your brushes are in water.
How does it work?
The Silicone Brush Cleaners come in lots of different shapes and sizes, but ultimately all have the same functionality. They use friction to help remove debris from the bristle tips all the way to within the brush core.
They are designed to have different textures and patterns that help to scrub the cosmetic debris from the brushes with minimal effort or damage to the brush itself.
Some textures reach within the brush head to give a deeper clean whilst others focus on cleaning the tips of the bristles.
How do you use it?
The silicone Brush cleaners are used differently depending on their size and shape.
Some are matts that are put onto a sink surface and used as a flat base to clean against. These can have adhesive suckers or a suction base to keep it in place as you clean. Others are designed to be worn on the fingers or the hand like a glove, or they are simply hand held to use however you feel comfortable.
They are all used in the same way, adding warm water (make sure to never use hot water on makeup brushes as this can damage the glue that holds the bristles and heads in place!) and soap to the brush, and gently swirling the head against the silicone pattern.
Repeat the swirling motion until all the product has come out, taking care to be gentle with the brush head. Never scrub the head harshly, and take care to avoid tangling and matting the bristles.
Rinse with clean water and gently swirl the brushes on the silicone until all product has been removed from the brush.
Leave to dry with the handles up and the head down to prevent water from going down into the ferrule. Make sure to clean the Silicone brush cleaner before putting it away and ensure there is no soap or cleaner left on it to preserve it.
When should I integrate this into my routine?
These should be used when you clean your brushes, and we recommend you clean your brushes every 2 weeks for a daily user and every 4 weeks for a casual user.
What do we recommend?
Silicone Brush Cleaners come in all colours, sizes and styles for any budget. There are a few things to consider when purchasing one.
Silicone matts are bigger and can be useful for cleaning lots of brushes and brushes of different types. These can require more space to store and need a bigger sink so be mindful of what will work for you. The handheld versions however are down to personal preference - Choose what feels most comfortable for you!
Products We Recommend:
J.Cat Beauty- Silicone Brush Cleaner: £4.99
Skinnydip - Moon & Star Brush Cleaner: £6.00
Sigma Spa® Brush Cleaning Mat: £17.43
