The best makeup brush cleansers make quick work of bacteria and product buildup, so you don't have to worry about transferring all of that onto your face. Shop makeup artist-approved picks to deep-cleanse your tools.
You have four shadows to crush a new eye look this season, and there are six blushes you’re raring to try. But before you dive in, the best makeup brush cleanser s are a necessary buy. Consistently cleansing your makeup brushes will help preserve the functionality and longevity of the tools.
Not to mention, a clean makeup brush is infinitely more sanguine for the complexion . And while household items may work in a pinch, investing in one of the best cleansers specifically designed for makeup brushes or sponges will pay off in the long run. “You can use regular soap or dish detergent, but over time, it could compromise the quality of the brushes,” says makeup artist Fiona Stiles. “The conditioning ingredients in brush soaps help to keep the bristles soft and healthy.” So, do your brushes a favor: Browse the makeup-artist-approved list below to find a cleanser that’s right for your tool collection. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Pro Starter Set, $28 Best for Deep-Cleaning: Beautyblender Solid Unscented + Silicone Scrub Mat, $18 Best for Sensitive Skin: EcoTools Makeup Brush + Sponge Shampoo, $7 Best for a Quick Dry Time: Jenny Patinkin Spray Away Instant Makeup Brush Cleanser, $19 Best for Cleansing On-The-Go: MAC Cosmetics Makeup Brush Cleanser, $20 Best for Sponges: Sigma Sigmatic Brushampoo Liquid, $20 Best for Brushes: Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser, $25 Best Overall: Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Pro Starter Set Why it’s worth it: “This is the most popular brush cleaner among beauty lovers of all kinds, from everyday makeup girlies up to the professional artists,” says makeup artist Camille Ariane. Ticking off the reasons she loves the hallowed cleanser, Ariane notes that it can be used without water, dries down quickly, and effectively rids the bristles of even the most stubborn product residue. “I also love that they have travel sizes available in this product,” she says. Another ringing endorsement comes from makeup artist Kasey Spickard. “It's not oily like a lot of other liquid brush cleaners,” he says. “You just dip your brush into the solution, wipe with a paper towel, and repeat the process until the brush is clean.” Best for Deep-Cleaning: Beautyblender Solid Unscented + Silicone Scrub Mat Why it’s worth it: “This is a great soap bar-cleanser for your brushes and sponges,” says Ariane. “It also comes with a cleansing pad to make cleaning easy and efficient.” Spickard seconds the recommendation. “Beautyblender Solid Brush Cleaner is also a go-to for deep-cleaning brushes,” he says. “This breaks down foundation and concealer with ease, unlike a lot of other makeup brush cleaners.” Best for Sensitive Skin: EcoTools Makeup Brush + Sponge Shampoo Why it’s worth it: “If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly cleanser for your brushes, this liquid formula is your answer,” says Ariane. “Fragrance-free, cruelty-free, and vegan, this is amazing to use if you have sensitive skin or are allergy-prone.” The plant-based shampoo—designed to clean both brushes and sponges—is also dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic. Plus, it’s made without parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, which may irritate some skin types. Best for a Quick Dry Time: Jenny Patinkin Spray Away Instant Makeup Brush Cleanser Why it’s worth it: “Densely packed makeup brushes blend makeup seamlessly but are really hard to clean,” says Stiles, noting that cream and liquid formulas are notorious for getting deeply lodged within brush bristles. Enter Jenny Patinkin Spray Away Instant Makeup Brush Cleanser. “This spray quickly gets out all the makeup with an almost instantaneous dry time,” Stiles says. “It’s especially handy for those incredibly busy weeks that we pro makeup artists face.” Best for Cleansing On-The-Go: MAC Makeup Brush Cleanser Why it’s worth it: New York City-based makeup artist Tommy relies on MAC's Makeup Brush Cleanser when he’s in on-the-go mode. 'I always keep this one in my kit for any instant cleaning I need to be done,' he tells Allure. So, how easy is it to use this, exactly? You can apply the cleanser straight to the brush, then run the brush along a white towel until it leaves no makeup behind. Best for Sponges: Sigma Sigmagic Brushampoo Liquid Why it’s worth it: Billed as an all-natural cleanser that cleans and conditions tools, Sigma Beauty’s liquid cleanser is particularly well-suited for fluffy brushes and sponges. Formulated with coconut and palm oils, the formula not only cleans but also helps ward off future bacterial growth. What’s more, the hypoallergenic formula is gentle on the hands. Best for Brushes: Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser Why it’s worth it: Designed to keep brushes in tip-top shape, Clinique’s petal-pink cleanser has hydrolyzed wheat protein that strengthens the bristles. To use it, spray each side of a makeup brush with the solution once. Then, take a tissue to wipe off excess makeup residue and let the brushes air-dry for just a couple of minutes—after that, they’re squeaky clean and ready to go. Frequently Asked Questions Stiles recommends using a soapy cleanser and hot or warm water to deep-clean brushes. “Swirl the brush onto the bar of soap, and repeat until there isn’t any makeup showing up on the soap,” she says. Alternatively, if using a liquid-soap solution, you could swirl the brush onto a towel until no more makeup shows up there. “The next step is to squeeze out the excess water; this will help the brushes dry faster and protect the glue that holds the bristles in the ferrule,” Stiles says. She adds that laying the brushes flat to dry is important for preserving the integrity of the brush. “Laying them with the tip of the brush over the edge of a counter will increase airflow and help the brushes dry faster,” she says. In terms of drying time, Stiles says that smaller brushes dry within about 12 hours, while bigger, fluffier brushes may require up to 24 hours to dry. In terms of makeup sponges, “These are prone to bacterial growth due to their damp environment, so it’s important to deep-clean and sanitize them regularly,” Spickard says. After washing his sponges using hot water and soap, he massages and squeezes the sponge under hot water until the liquid runs clear. “I finish by spritzing the sponge with 70% isopropyl alcohol to sanitize and kill lingering bacteria,” Spickard says. He lets the sponge air-dry on a clean bathroom towel or paper towel. And finally, a word on those electric makeup-brush cleansers: “I am not a fan of the brush ‘washing machines’—the brushes just sit in dirty water and never feel fully clean to me,” Patinkin says. “I know a lot of people like to use liquid dish detergent or baby shampoo, but for me, the amount of time you have to spend rinsing it out makes it inefficient,” says Patinkin. She explains that most household cleansers contain foaming agents that are hard to rinse, which makes it easy to waste water while using them. “I prefer more sustainable, beauty tool-specific cleaning products that are made without fragrance, dyes, petrochemicals, or SLSs that can get rinsed into the waterways,” she says. “Brushes that are used for creamy products such as foundation, concealer, and lipstick should be cleaned every few days, minimum, or when they have accumulated a lot of product,” says Reiss-Andersen. But don’t be intimidated by the frequency. “Cleaning only takes a few minutes!” she says. For brushes and sponges used for powder products, makeup artists recommend cleaning the tools anywhere from once a month to once a quarter. Camille Ariane, a makeup artist whose clients include Elaine Welteroth and Tramell Tillman Jenny Patinkin, a makeup artist and beauty-tool brand founder Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, a makeup artist whose clients include Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Pfeiffer Kasey Spickard, a makeup artist whose clients include Jenna Lyons Fiona Stiles, a makeup artist whose clients include Lily Collins and Natalie Portman When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas. For our list of the best makeup brush cleaners, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from makeup artists, dermatologists, and cosmetic chemists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page. A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal. After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the 'best' for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet. Try these products for the next time you whip out your makeup brushes: These Skin Tints Are Your Summer Foundation Swap 7 Best Contour Kits for Definition in All the Right Areas Did We Just Get Back From Tulum, or Is It Simply Bronzer? 11 Best Blushes for Mature Skin for a Bouncy, Radiant Finish Done reading? Now watch Isabela Merced's 10-minute beauty routine: Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
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