I’ve been using ISOCLEAN Makeup Brush Cleaner for years to quickly clean & sterilise my makeup brushes. If you don’t currently clean your brushes then you need to invest, especially if you suffer with acne. Bacteria will be living on your brushes transferring to your face with each use.
ISOCLEAN is vegan and cruelty-free.
Here’s how I use ISOCLEAN:
- prep – get a towel & small bowl ready
- soak the brushes with ISOCLEAN
- gently rub on a towel to remove makeup
- reshape brushes back to original shape
- leave for a few minutes before using
It takes a few minutes to prep & clean the brushes. I normally clean them on a day when I don’t need to use them. Makeup artists (MUAs) use this cleaner in-between clients – that’s how sanitary it is, and how little time the brushes take to dry afterwards. I’d say they take around 30s-1min to dry, depending on the brush size before you can use it.
1. Prep – get a towel & small bowl ready
With the 500ml bottle I bought, it didn’t come with a detachable drip tray. However, it does now, so I’d recommend getting it. It’s the same price with/without one.
I only pour into the bowl as much as is needed to soak up into each brush. I use 3 brushes on a regular basis:
- concealer brush (small)
- blush brush (pretty big)
- foundation brush (pretty big)
Mine comes with a spray top but I don’t use it. I feel by pouring the liquid out into a bowl and soaking my brushes in it, I get a better clean and waste less.
2. Pour ISOCLEAN into the bowl & soak
Once I’ve poured some out, I soak my brushes which should leave no ISOCLEAN in the bowl. Make sure to get everything wet; you need to clean the whole brush!
3. Use a towel to rub your brushes clean
I personally use a handtowel that’s quite rough. I wouldn’t recommend using a very smooth towel that doesn’t have texture; it’ll take longer to clean your brushes.
4. Reshape shape your brush
Gently rub and twist into the towel until all the makeup has come off. Don’t harshly rub your brushes straight into the towel. You want them to keep their shape.
To make sure you’ve cleaned it properly, keep moving to a different part on the towel & check for makeup. A lighter-coloured towel is best for this.
5. Leave to dry
Don’t use your brushes within seconds of cleaning – they’ll probably still be wet. Leave for at least a minute before using.
How often should you clean your brushes?
I clean mine once every few weeks, but I don’t wear much makeup especially since lockdown. If you wear heavy makeup or have acne, I’d recommend cleaning your brushes weekly (maybe less; every 5 days or so).
Where can I buy it?
It’s around £22-25 for the larger 525ml or £17 for 275ml.
Thank you for reading my blog! I wrote it in March 2021 and last updated it in November 2024. It's tagged with the category Make up if you'd like to read more.
AD: #ad Some of my blogs include affiliate links where I get paid when you click through and buy. This doesn't increase the cost you pay. My blogs are my point of view and experience. I don't promote anything I don't like or believe in.