How to Clean Makeup Brushes and Tools, and When to Replace Makeup

Makeup brushes, sponges and applicators touch your face every day, and they collect oil, dead skin, product residue and bacteria along the way. Dirty tools can contribute to breakouts and irritation, and old or shared products bring their own risks, particularly around the eyes. The good news is that makeup hygiene is simple once it becomes a habit. Here is how often to clean each tool, how to do it properly, when to replace products and where to check for recalls in Canada.

How often to clean brushes, sponges and tools

A practical schedule, based on dermatology guidance:

• Makeup brushes: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends washing brushes every 7 to 10 days. Brushes used with liquid or cream products, such as foundation and concealer, build up residue fastest.
• Makeup sponges: clean after every use. A damp sponge is an easy place for bacteria to grow.
• Eyelash curlers, tweezers and metal tools: wipe them clean regularly and let them dry fully before putting them away.
• Pencil liners: sharpening exposes a fresh surface, so keep the sharpener clean as well.

Health Canada also advises washing your hands before putting on makeup. Clean hands keep germs out of your products and off your tools.

How to wash makeup brushes step by step

You don't need special equipment. The AAD's method:

1. Rinse the tips of the brushes under lukewarm running water to loosen makeup.
2. Make a cleaning bowl of lukewarm water with about a tablespoon of gentle or clarifying shampoo.
3. Swirl each brush tip in the bowl, or massage it gently in your palm.
4. Rinse the tips again under running water.
5. Repeat until the water runs clear.
6. Squeeze out excess water with a clean, dry paper towel and reshape the bristles.
7. Dry them flat on a towel with the tips hanging over the edge of the counter. Don't stand wet brushes upright: water can run into the handle and loosen the glue that holds the bristles.

Try to keep water on the bristles and away from the metal band (ferrule). Wash brushes at night so they have time to dry fully before you use them again, since damp bristles can go musty.

Cleaning sponges

Wet the sponge, work a little gentle soap or shampoo through it, squeeze and rinse until the water runs clear, then press out the water and let it air-dry somewhere open rather than in a closed case. Replace sponges that crumble, tear or stay stained after washing.

Product expiry and the period-after-opening symbol

Many cosmetics carry a period-after-opening (PAO) symbol: a small open jar with a number and the letter "M." The number tells you how many months the product should last once opened, so "12M" means about a year. Writing the opening date on the pack with a marker makes it easy to keep track.

The AAD's guide on when to toss makeup gives these rough timelines:

• Mascara and liquid eyeliner: about 3 months
• Liquid foundation: about 6 to 12 months
• Powder products such as eyeshadow and blush: about 2 years
• Lipstick: about 1 to 2 years

Treat these as a guide, not a guarantee. Whatever the date, Health Canada's advice is not to use a cosmetic if it changes in smell, colour or feel. Separation, clumping, crumbling and an off smell are all signs to throw it out. Sunscreen in Canada carries an expiry date, so check it before each season.

Why you shouldn't share eye makeup

Sharing a mascara wand or eyeliner might seem harmless, but it can pass germs from one person's eyes to another's. Health Canada's eye cosmetics guidance is clear:

• Never borrow or share eye makeup.
• Never use saliva to moisten mascara or other eye makeup.
• Wash your hands before applying eye cosmetics.
• Stop using an eye product immediately if it causes irritation or inflammation.

Don't add water to thin a drying mascara either; Health Canada advises against diluting makeup. When it gets dry and clumpy, it's time for a new one. If you've had an eye infection, it's sensible to replace the eye products you were using and ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice. In-store testers are shared by many people, so use a fresh disposable applicator and never test eye products directly on your eyes.

Storing makeup the right way

Health Canada recommends keeping cosmetics in a dry area, away from direct heat and sunlight. In practice:

• A drawer or cabinet outside a steamy bathroom is often better than a shelf beside the shower.
• Close lids and caps tightly after use.
• Keep clean brushes in a covered holder or pouch so they don't collect dust.
• Don't leave makeup in a parked car, where temperatures can swing a lot.
• Clear out your makeup bag regularly, including loose crumbs of powder and old cotton pads.

You can browse our makeup department for face, eye and brow products, and our cleansers and makeup removers for the end of the day.

Checking recalls and reporting problems in Canada

The Government of Canada runs a searchable Recalls and safety alerts database covering consumer products, health products, food and vehicles. You can search by product name or keyword, browse recent alerts, and sign up for email notices about new and updated recalls. It's worth a quick search if a product has ever caused you a problem or you've heard about an issue with it.

If you have a reaction, stop using the product. Health Canada advises seeing a doctor if the irritation looks severe or lasts, and you can report problems with a cosmetic through a Consumer Product Incident Report. For order questions, our contact page is the place to reach us.

Makeup hygiene checklist

• Wash brushes every 7 to 10 days, and sponges after every use.
• Dry brushes flat with the tips hanging over the edge, never upright.
• Check the PAO symbol and write the opening date on new products.
• Replace mascara and liquid liner roughly every 3 months.
• Throw out anything that changes in smell, colour or feel.
• Never share eye makeup or moisten it with saliva.
• Store products closed, dry and away from heat and sunlight.
• Search the Canadian Recalls and safety alerts database when in doubt.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my makeup brushes?

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days. Makeup sponges should be cleaned after every use.

What does the open-jar symbol with a number and M mean?

It is the period-after-opening symbol. The number shows roughly how many months the product should last after you first open it.

How often should I replace mascara?

Dermatologists suggest replacing mascara and liquid eyeliner about every three months. Throw it out sooner if it changes in smell, colour or texture.

Is it safe to share eye makeup?

No. Health Canada advises never borrowing or sharing eye makeup and never moistening mascara with saliva, because both can spread germs.

Where can I check whether a beauty product has been recalled in Canada?

Search the Government of Canada's Recalls and safety alerts database at recalls-rappels.canada.ca, where you can also sign up for email notices. Problems with a cosmetic can be reported to Health Canada through a Consumer Product Incident Report.