10 Makeup Brush Cleaners for Grime-Free Beauty Tools (2024)

It also combines coconut and palm oils to condition brush hairs and leaves them noticeably softer and shiny.

More: Facial-Cleansing Brushes We Tried and Loved

You're pretty much guaranteed to find a bottle of Cinema Secrets in the kits of pro makeup artists, especially during fashion month when they're working on hundreds of models.

Both Saunders and celebrity makeup artist Millie Morales recommend this iconic product whenever it’s time to deep-clean makeup brushes. They appreciate that it kills 99.9% of germs and dries almost instantly. Just dip the tips of the bristles into the solution for legit 5 seconds and remove to let the liquid drip down the base and dry.

“The vibrant blue tint initially concerned me because I was afraid it would dye my white bristle brushes. Instead, it cleanses away stubborn waterproof makeup and leaves behind a light vanilla scent — no colorful bristles insight,” notes Saunders.

This minimalistic liquid cleanser from MAC is a tried-and-true classic. By working to disinfect brush fibers, each cleaning ensures that skin is less likely to get blemishes from bacteria, and bristles stay strong. It’s also designed to condition and extend the life of your brushes, so they continue looking brand new over the years.

And don’t worry: This is one of the few makeup brush cleansers for daily use, so you have no more excuses for dirty tools.

“This was the first makeup brush cleanser I used, and you pretty much can’t go wrong,” says Saunders. “It works with synthetic and natural brushes and makeup sponges like the Beautyblender.” She recommends pouring some into a paper cup, swirling the bristles around to remove any embedded makeup, and rinsing them out before leaving them out to dry overnight.

Cleaning and drying makeup brushes can be a lengthy process, but with this quick-dry cleaner from IT Cosmetics, your trusted tools are ready to apply a fresh coat of makeup in minutes. Spritz makeup brushes with this cleanser, rub off the excess solution on a towel, and lay it down to dry for a couple of minutes.

Sure, it’ll take longer to dry than the Cinema Secret cleanser. Still, it’s just a champagne problem when dealing with a 120-second versus 5-second wait time, especially since most other brush cleansers on this list will require an overnight dry.

In addition, you’ll likely adore this product because it’s a spray that’s great for traveling. I suggest taping down the protective lid and placing it in a small zippered baggie before you catch a flight. I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember and never once had an issue with items spray products leaking.

It's a given to use this solid cleanser on your beautyblender, but it is also effective when it comes to traditional makeup brush cleaning. It's incredibly popular on Amazon and Sephora, and experts adore it, too.

This handy spray by NYX offers an effective cleaner that's also affordable. It's a nonabrasive makeup brush cleaner that will be gentle on your brushes while still ridding them of bacteria.

It's safe to use daily and won't cause any shedding or breaking, yet it tackles built-up grime and bacteria like a pro. It's a great pick for refreshing your brushes in between washes.

Have delicate pores? Then don't coat your brushes in irritable fragrances and synthetics. Of course, it is easier said than done since most makeup brush cleaners contain alcohol, so if you're steering clear of its skin-drying properties, this is the brush cleaner for you.

This fragrance-free pick from Ecotools doesn't contain red-flag ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and petroleum-based ingredients, meaning your complexion will be in tip-top shape. Most importantly, it purifies and removes all makeup from your brushes quickly and easily.

For under $10, this product puts in work to clean up your beauty brushes. The thicker gel-like cleanser sloughs off any lingering makeup and grime with ease, even if it's caked with liquid foundation or covered in powder.

The results: a truly clean look and feel to your favorite makeup brushes.

A bonus: It’s alcohol-free, so you won’t have to worry about stripping your tools.

Sephora's own Color Switch Brush Cleaner is a dry, netted sponge that can remove pigmentation from tools without any liquid cleansers.

Consider this a must-have when creating a smokey eye from your matte and glitter eyeshadow palettes. It's also handy if you use the same stippling brush to apply foundation and blush.

To use this one, just swipe your brush in a swirl or windshield-wiper rotation until the color is fully removed — and you're off to the next product. Yes, it really is that easy.

Bobbi Brown's luxurious answer to makeup brush cleaner will actually condition the bristles as it cleans, so your brushes stay in excellent shape.

Apply a small amount of her signature cleanser to the head of the brush, and massage inward with a lukewarm rinse. Towel-blot, then let air-dry overnight for nourished brushes free of residue.

After your new makeup brush cleaner arrives be sure to follow along with these makeup artist-approved tips.

Q: How Often Should I Wash My Makeup Brushes?

Experts say you'll gain the most from deep cleaning makeup brushes at least once a week. You should ramp the frequency when brushes touch your eyes, mouth, open skin (such as acne), or they are stored uncovered where dirt and dust can accumulate, advises Bartlett.

When you’re using quick-drying makeup brush cleaners, you can use them as necessary since they are more prone to dehydrating your brush hairs. A happy medium would be to sanitize with a quick-drying spray when working with only a few multipurpose brushes, but deep-cleaning once a week to eliminate bacteria.

Q: How Should I Clean My Makeup Brushes?

Morales is a huge fan of the double-cleansing approach. “First, I clean and disinfect my makeup brushes with Cinema Secret to remove residue, grease, and makeup. Then, I wash them out with liquid brush soap. It helps with killing germs and leaves the brushes spotless,” she explains.