Can We Use Isopropyl Alcohol Spray For Makeup?

Have you ever got your makeup done by a professional makeup artist? Or are you a professional makeup artist?

No matter on which side of the situation you are in, one concern should always affect you, and that is, Sanitizing the makeup tools and products.

Makeup and the makeup-applying tools are more susceptible to bacteria and fungi exposure than most other objects. And when the makeup is kept/ applied inside a bathroom, the chances of contamination grow.

However, if you have a bottle of Isopropyl (Rubbing) Alcohol along, you can actually take control of the situation. Wondering how? Here are all the insights on the same:

Can you use Isopropyl Alcohol to clean makeup?

How do makeup artists sanitize their makeup? Makeup and its tools are real shit when it comes to cost. And thus, you cannot just clean them with any other product available on the market.

For ensuring your super expensive makeup’s quality and life, use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Among several makeup artists worldwide, the most common sanitizing liquid they use is Isopropyl Alcohol.

This solvent will clean, disinfect, and sanitize makeup and makeup products with ease.

How to clean makeup tools using Isopropyl Alcohol?

When you want to clean your makeup tools, pick a time.

You are not sufficiently cleaning and disinfecting your makeup tools at all if you are in a rush.

Remember, partially clean, half drying, and other conditions can lead to bacterial development in your products.

Learn how you can clean your makeup tools for thorough cleaning.

Firstly, soak all the makeup tools, especially brushes, into cold water. Get only the bristle part wet. And for tools like lash curler etc., clean them too with a wet cloth and keep them aside.
Now take some shampoo on your palm or a thick board and swish the wet brushes over them. You do not have to go harsh; however, being extra gentle too won’t help the cause.

You will see all the makeup dirt and gunk through the shampoo foam on rubbing the brush.

Now rinse the brushes under cold water while keeping the handle dry only.
Now take a glass jar with a big enough mouth considering you will dip the brushes (bristles) inside.
Fill the glass with 1:3 Isopropyl and Water solution. Mix both of them well so that they become one.
Now take all the brushes (which you were cleaning) and dip their bristles into Isopropyl and Water solution.
Keep them sink into the solution for at least 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, bring them out, squeeze the extra water, and make each brush lie on a thick towel. Let the brushes dry overnight.

TIP: If you are low on time, use a hairdryer for drying the brushes fast.

For cleaning makeup tools that don’t have hairy bristles, use Isopropyl Spray over them after the 2nd step.
At last, wipe them with a tissue or clean microfibre cloth.

Can you spray Isopropyl Alcohol on makeup?

Yes, be it any makeup products, you can spray Isopropyl Alcohol over them. However, the trick for each of them will differ a bit.

For example, for cleaning makeup that is in a bottle, you can spray IsopropylAlcohol on its exteriors. Further, for reaching the hard areas like inside the cap or the nozzle, use Alcohol dipped cotton swabs.

Whereas for powder products like eyeshadow palettes, face powders, blushers, bronzers, etc.

Take the Rubbing Alcohol liquid, spray it over your powder product and ensure you thoroughly saturate. Next, leave the powder product to dry.

Even though Rubbing Alcohol will take only a few seconds to evaporate, we recommend you leave the makeup product open for a little longer. Even if it sounds risky, this method is absolutely safe and won’t hamper your makeup’s quality.

Next, for pencil makeup products, firstly, dip the sharpener into Rubbing Alcohol solution. Now take the pencil makeup, dip it into Alcohol, sharpen it and dip it again. Now let it sit and dry.

Lastly, scrape off the top layer of the cream product for cream-based makeup products. Now spray a tiny bit of Rubbing Alcohol on the top layer and let it evaporate. You can again scrape off the thinnest layer from the top for extra caution.

Pro Tip: For ensuring clean and disinfected makeup, always use disposable wands or take out the product on a palette before applying. Doing so will generate the least chances of getting your products dirty. This will also ensure safe makeup for your client’s skin.

Can you clean lipstick with Rubbing Alcohol?

Cleaning and sanitizing lipsticks are as easy and quick as other makeup products. All you need to do is,

Firstly, open your lipstick’s cap and keep both portions over a clean surface.
Take cotton swabs, dip them into 70% IsopropylAlcohol and use it for cleaning the nooks and corners inside the cap. Spray the Alcohol solution and wipe nicely with a cotton tissue/ cloth for the outer part.
Now take a small container (enough for dipping a lipstick) and fill it halfway with 70% Rubbing Alcohol.
Further, take the lipstick and dip the entire length of the product into Rubbing Alcohol. Or you can let the lipstick sink into the solution.
After 30 to 50 seconds, remove the lipstick and keep it for drying. Make sure you keep it over a clean and dry surface only.
Wait for at least 15 minutes between the lipstick cleaning and reapplying process.

NOTE: The particular explanation is for traditional tubes of lipstick only. You can always follow the same procedure as said for liquid makeup products above for liquid and gel lipsticks. Along with that, using disposable lipstick wands or lipstick brushes too will help.

How do you disinfect a makeup palette?

To begin with, take a few cotton swabs and clean the palette around the eyeshadows or lipstick sections. If dry swaps aren’t enough, you can also dip them in micellar water.
Once the palette canvas is clean, spray 70% Isopropyl over it. If you see any build up on the upper layer of the makeup in the palette, scrap it off and spray Alcohol again. Make sure you spray it from a distance as we do with perfumes.
Let the palette dry or take a dry cotton tissue and dap it nicely over the product for extra precaution.
Though it won’t take long before drying, one must wait for an hour before reapplying for that makeup.

Can you use hand sanitizer on makeup?

If it is for cleaning makeup from the face, never ever use Hand Sanitizer for the same. Though the product has Rubbing Alcohol, it is never meant for use on the face.

This is because your face skin is extremely delicate than that of your face.

Further, if you are looking forward to switching IsopropylAlcohol with Hand sanitizer to clean your makeup products, DON’T. Hand Sanitizers may have several other supporting ingredients other than Isopropyl.

For example, sanitizers have a dominance of benzalkonium chloride, which is known for causing irritation and allergies on the skin.

Thus, avoid switching hand sanitizer for Rubbing Alcohol, especially when it comes to makeup.

Wrapping up…

Cleaning Makeup and Makeup tools is as important as washing clothes and towels. However, when using Rubbing Alcohol for the same, one has to behave carefully.

Especially while spraying Rubbing Alcohol over makeup products, make sure you do not soak them completely. Also, allow enough drying time before you close them.

As per experts, clean them every once or twice a week for personal makeup tools and products. However, clean your products after every makeup session if you deal professionally.

Logan Jenkins

My name is Logan, and I’m a 36-year-old dad who owns a small pressure-washing company in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. My main goal with rubbing-alcohol.com is to show you how versatile isopropyl rubbing alcohol can be! I hope. You find it useful.

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