Most people focus on which brushes to buy and skip the maintenance that actually keeps them working well. A brush that isn't cleaned regularly stops doing its job properly long before it looks obviously dirty. Product, oil, and dead skin build up in the bristles with every use, and that buildup transfers back onto the face the next time the brush is used, which can mean patchier makeup application and, for some skin types, clogged pores or breakouts traced back to a brush rather than a skincare product.
A dedicated brush cleanser is built to break down this kind of buildup without stripping or damaging the bristles the way dish soap or hand soap can over time. Regular cleaning also extends how long a brush actually performs well. Bristles coated in old product lose their shape and blending ability well before they visibly wear out, so a brush that looks fine can still be underperforming.
The habit that actually matters here is frequency, not intensity. A quick, regular clean keeps a brush performing consistently, while letting buildup accumulate and then doing one aggressive deep-clean tends to be harder on the bristles and still leaves a gap of underperformance in between.
Explore our beauty tools collection for brushes and cleaning essentials.