How to Store Makeup Brushes

Co-authored by Tymia Yvette

Last Updated: February 19, 2023 References

Makeup brushes are essential makeup accessories, but they can easily get misplaced if you don’t have a good storage system. To store your brushes at home, place them in a brush holder, organiser, or stackable drawers. These make your vanity or dresser look pretty and help you to easily locate your brushes. If you are travelling, opt for a compact bag, wrap, or brush book to protect your brushes. Each of these options are easy, inexpensive ways to organise your brushes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Organising Your Brushes at Home

1
Place the brushes into a commercial makeup brush holder for easy access. These holders look like jars and are a great way to display your brushes in your bathroom or on your dresser. Place the brushes into the holder with the bristles facing upward to protect them from damage. If you live in a dusty area, use a makeup brush holder that has a lid on it to avoid them getting dirty.^{[1]
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- Glass holders work well because you can easily identify your different brushes when they are in the holder.
- Consider having different holders for your different types of brushes. For example, 1 holder for your eyeshadow brushes, another for your foundation and contour brushes, and another for your powder brushes.
- If you don’t have a makeup brush holder, use a glass mason jar instead.
2
Utilise a brush organiser if you want a stylish option. These organisers are made from glass or perspex and have crystals at the bottom of each compartment to help the brushes stand upright. The different coloured crystals make the brush organiser a beautiful feature piece, and the see-through compartments make it quick and easy to locate the makeup brush you want to use.^{[2]
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- Choose an organiser that is tall enough to fit your largest brushes.
- Place the brushes into the organiser with the bristles facing up.
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3
Pour some coffee beans into a vase to create a fragrant storage container. Choose a vase that you like and pour about 2 inches (5.1 cm) of coffee beans into the base. Place the base of your brushes into the coffee beans to keep them upright.^{[3]
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- Rice or pebbles will also work if you don’t have any coffee beans.
- Keep in mind that coffee beans may stain light colored handles, so this option works best for brushes with dark colored handles.
4
Use stackable drawers if you’re short on space. If you prefer your vanity or dresser to have a minimal look, use perspex stackable drawers to organise your makeup brushes. Lie your brushes in the drawers to keep them easily accessible.^{[4]
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- This is also a great way to keep your makeup brushes clean and dust-free, especially if you don’t use them very often.
- These drawers also work well for storing makeup.
- Purchase stackable drawers from a homeware store or online.
5
Place your brushes in a kitchen utensil organiser for easy access. Place the kitchen utensil organiser on your bathroom vanity, dresser, or in an easily accessible drawer. Divide the brushes between the different compartments of the organiser. For example, place all the foundation brushes in 1 compartment, the eyeshadow brushes in another, and the powder brushes in another.^{[5]
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- If you are repurposing an old kitchen utensil organiser, wipe it down first to ensure that it is dust-free.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Storing Your Brushes for Travelling

1
Opt for a brush book to maintain the shape of the brushes. A brush book is a great investment if you want to protects your brushes while you are on holiday or if you are transporting your brushes. Simply slide each brush under an elastic band inside the brush book and then zip up the case. The separate slots stop the brushes from rolling around and getting out of shape.^{[6]
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- Keep your brush book in your hand luggage while travelling to prevent the brushes from getting squished in your main bag.
- A brush book is a foldable carry bag for your brushes. Each side of the book has elastic bands to keep the brushes in place.
2
Use a wrapped leather holder to prevent the brushes from touching. These holders roll up into a small compact cylinder. The separate compartments within the holders means that the brushes don’t touch each other, which reduces the risk of them getting damaged. Simply slip each brush into a compartment and roll up the holder.^{[7]
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- If you prefer not to use leather, opt for a fabric or plastic wrapped holder.
- A wrapped leather holder is a length of leather that can be rolled up for easy storage. Small bands are sewn into the leather to secure the brushes.
- Wrapped leather holders are a great way to keep the bristles of your brushes in top condition.
3
Place your small brushes in a sunglass case to keep them from getting lost. It’s really easy for your brushes to end up at the bottom of your suitcase when you are travelling. If you only have a few brushes, place them in a sunglass case for easy access.^{[8]
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- Use a sunglass case that shuts firmly to avoid the brushes falling out.
4
Choose a makeup bag or case with compartments to store your brushes. Sticky or leaking makeup bottles can quickly soil your brushes. To keep your brushes clean, choose a makeup bag that has separate pockets, sleeves, or bags that you can use to store makeup brushes.^{[9]
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- This is a great option if you travel often with your makeup and want to keep your makeup and brushes together.
5
Use a pencil case to keep your brushes clean while you’re travelling. This is a great way to keep your makeup brushes separate from your makeup and will help prevent them from getting dirty or dusty while you’re on the road. Choose a pencil case that closes securely to ensure that the brushes don’t fall out.^{[10]
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- If you use a pencil case with a zip, make sure that the brush bristles don’t get caught in the zip.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Brushes

1
Clean your brushes weekly with shampoo and hot water. Submerge the bristles of each brush in hot tap water and then dip the bristles into a small bowl of shampoo. Only wash the bristles and not the part of the brush holding the bristles! Submerging the part of the brush that holds the bristles could loosen the adhesive and cause bristles to fall out. Use your fingers to gently rub the makeup out of the bristles. Once the shampoo has lathered, hold the bristles under hot tap water until the water runs clean. Leave the brushes on a towel to dry.^{[11]
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- Wash 1 brush at a time for best results.
- Aim to wash your brushes once a week to keep them sparkling clean.
- For a quick way to clean a brush, soak a cotton pad in alcohol and use it to rub the bristles clean.
- Ensure that the brushes are completely dry before you store or use them again.
- To prevent the spread of germs that could cause skin infections or spread diseases like the novel coronavirus, clean and sanitize your brushes and tools every time you use them.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Tymia Yvette
  Makeup & Lash Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 April 2020.}
2
Store your brushes in closed containers for best results. To keep your brushes in the best condition, try to minimise their exposure to dust. Place your brushes into a container that zips closed or has a lid to keep the dust away.^{[13]
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- Avoid using jars without lids for storage, as the brushes will likely end up covered in dust over time.
3
Replace your brushes once they are misshapen or broken. Avoid using brushes with cracked handles, as bacteria can build up in the cracks and then transfer to your hands and face. If you notice that your brush is losing lots of bristles or has lost its original shape, it is best to replace it.
- If your favorite makeup brush has a cracked handle, take it back to the supplier and ask if they can replace the handle.

Expert Q&A

Question

How frequently should I clean my makeup brushes?

Tymia Yvette
Makeup & Lash Artist
Tymia Yvette is a Makeup and Lash Artist and the founder of Tymia Yvette Beauty LLC, a makeup artistry and lash extension company focused on customized beauty services based in Baltimore, Maryland. Trained by MAC Cosmetics, Tymia's work has been featured in the Bravo A-List Awards 2008, the BET Honors Award Show in 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2011, 2012, and 2013, and the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2014. She has also provided makeup and lash services for the Betsy Royal Casting Agency and the Baltimore Raven's cheerleading squad from 2010 to 2012. Her clients include Terrence Howard, Torrey Smith, Lester Holt, Adrienne Lofton, and Natasha Hastings. She has been awarded WeddingWire's Couple's Choice Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Tymia Yvette

Makeup & Lash Artist

Expert Answer

Post COVID-19, brushes and all other cosmetic tools should be cleansed and sanitized immediately after every makeup application.