Will Zoeva’s Cleansing Pad Speed Up Brush Cleaning?
Main Image – Courtesy of writer
Despite being a beauty editor, I am not great with cleaning my makeup brushes. I probably clean them once every four to six weeks, rather than the recommended weekly, sometimes daily. But hey, no one’s perfect or, frankly, time-rich.
So, I was excited to try the Zoeva Brush Cleansing Pad (£13/$15). It looked easy to use from the images and videos online and I vowed to start treating my makeup brushes (and skin) better if the pad worked out.
Keep scrolling to find out how I got on.
The product details
Made of silicone, this vegan, ergonomic cleansing pad is textured so that it doesn’t damage your brushes during the cleansing process. There is also a sucker at the bottom so that you can stick it to your sink, or any hard surface as you cleanse.
It’s been created for all types of brushes, so you name it, it’ll (hopefully) cleanse it.
First impressions
The pad was just as I expected at first touch – bendy enough for gentle cleansing yet sturdy enough to push a brush down onto.
I was stopped at the first hurdle though as the instructions on the box start off by saying “Lightly dampen your brush and apply the Zoeva Brush Shampoo Bar to your cleansing pad.” There was no Zoeva Brush Shampoo Bar in my box, and I realised I’d have to buy that separately. Humph.
My mood was lightened a little though when I discovered – now on the website – that, actually, you can use any shampoo. “Pour a pea-sized amount of shampoo or brush cleanser in the centre of the Zoeva Brush Cleansing Pad.” Ok, good. But also, confusing.
Another thing to note is that, in the US, you can actually buy the pad and the shampoo bar as a set ($25.50). In the UK, you can buy the Shampoo Bar for £11.50. But honestly? A little blob of Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo was enough in my case and saved me the extra pennies.
During cleaning. Image – Courtesy of writer
I was hoping the Cleansing Pad would rid my lovely Zoeva foundation brush of the inevitable brown stains so, after pouring on my shampoo and wetting the brush a little, I swished it around the pad. The water instantly turned brown – which I hoped was just makeup and not dirt – and I carried on swishing.
The instructions say to keep going until all colour is removed. After three to five minutes the water went back to a normal colour which, I must say, I was impressed with. However, the stain on my brush was still there, which was a little disappointing as the website says, “say goodbye to makeup stains”.
Perhaps if I’d cleansed the brush for a bit longer the stain would have faded, but the now-clear water told me there wasn’t much hope left in that department, plus the whole point of the Pad is that the cleansing process is quick. This was probably the best I was going to get.
My mixed results
This is a great little Cleansing Pad for a quick brush refresh. I like how easy it is to use and it’s relatively mess-free too. The sucker on the bottom is a great idea and you don’t feel like you’re killing the bristles of your brushes because of the Pad’s gentle, bendy nature.
I really liked how the colour of the water went instantly brown on the Pad and that I could see it getting clearer and clearer as I swished. Talk about satisfying!
When I tried it out on my eyeshadow and powder brushes, they were much quicker to clean, and the brushes were pretty much left stain-free, unlike my foundation brush. This was to be expected though, given that foundation is obviously more stubborn than sheerer powders.
I’m just not sure I would use this Cleansing Pad overly frequently. I know, I know, I should! But what puts me off cleaning my brushes every week is how long they take to dry, and this Cleansing Pad doesn’t help me in that department.
You’ve still got to wait for your brushes to dry overnight (sometimes longer) and, whilst this cleans them nicely (foundation stains aside), I think I would invest more time and money into something that had a drying mechanism too, like the StylPro Original Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer.
This is clearly a very different product though – it delivers pretty much everything it says it will. I’m just saying I would personally rather something more high-tech to push me into the habit of cleaning my brushes more frequently so that I don’t have the extra hassle of drying time.
After cleaning. Image – Courtesy of writer
What other users are saying
Vanessa P says, “not so good at removing the stubborn foundation, but on the whole it’s a good product.” I agree, but we must take into account the fact that a liquid foundation is a much thicker formula than eyeshadows and powder blushers, for example, and for me it was really the stain that didn’t budge, not so much residue left in the brush.
Harbans S writes, “easy to use and cleans the brushes thoroughly and makes them look really clean,” whilst Rossana L says, “wonderful! Super useful and easy to use.”
Overall value for money
I have to say, I was pretty shocked when I found out this was £13/$16. It’s quite a lot of money to spend on a silicone pad.
To be fair though, it’s not exactly going to ‘run out’. And as long as you keep it clean, it should always be an effective brush cleanser so its use will be ongoing once you’ve made the initial purchase.
The takeaway
This is the perfect travel companion for cleaning your brushes on holiday, or for makeup artists on-the-go. And it’s really good to keep in your bathroom at home too, for the odd swish here and there to maintain hygiene.
It’s easy to clean, easy to store and easy to pack. If you’re looking for a quick and simple solution for brush cleaning, you’re willing to pay slightly over the odds and you don’t mind waiting for your brushes to dry naturally, then go for it.
Get Glowing!
