7 Best Makeup Brush Cleansers to Keep Your Tools (and Your Complexion!) Fresh

04.06.2025, 02:25 allure.com

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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 cleansers 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 (unless, of course, you like a little bacteria with your blush).

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.

Cinema Secrets

Amazon

Nordstrom

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.”

Editor's tip

The cleanser has another makeup-artist fan in Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, who praises its olfactory perks. “It has a very pleasant smell, which is important for my clients,” she notes. (No big deal, but those clients include Sigourney Weaver and Michelle Pfeiffer.)

More to know

Key ingredients: naphtha, light alkylate, isoparafin hydrocarbonFragrance-free: no

Beautyblender

Amazon

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.”

Editor's tip

Prefer to use a solution that pours? The cleanser is also available in liquid form.

More to know

Key ingredients: aloe, coconut oil, sustainable palm oilFragrance-free: yes

EcoTools

Amazon

Ulta Beauty

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.

Editor's tip

According to the brand, a little of the formula goes a long way. It’s best to dispense a small bit of the solution at a time.

More to know

Key ingredients: decyl glucoside, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, glycerinFragrance-free: yes

Jenny Patinkin

Amazon

Nordstrom

Credo Beauty

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.”

Editor's tip

This vegan cleanser also eschews the medicinal smell for something altogether kinder on the nose. “Unlike some of the more well-known makeup solvents, this one doesn’t have a strong lingering chemical scent,” Stiles notes.

More to know

Key ingredients: glycerin, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, vanilla planifolia fruit extractFragrance-free: no

MAC

Nordstrom

MAC

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.

Editor's tip

Enriched with wheat protein, the formula strengthens the brush bristles as it cleans them.

More to know

Key ingredients: sodium trideceth sulfate, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hexylene glycol Fragrance-free: no

Sigma Beauty

Amazon

Revolve

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.

Editor's tip

This works best when paired with a cleaning tool, such as the Sigma Beauty Express Brush Cleansing Mat. To use the cleanser and scrub mat in tandem, apply a couple pumps of the cleanser to a brush or sponge, then swirl the tool on the mat and rinse it with warm water.

More to know

Key ingredients: virgin coconut oil, palm oil, potassium hydroxideFragrance-free: yes

Clinique

Nordstrom

Ulta Beauty

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.

Editor's tip

Jenny Patinkin, makeup artist and beauty-tool brand founder, likes using spray cleansers to extend the time between deep-cleansing. (When it is time for a deep clean, she typically uses a solid soap.)

More to know

Key ingredients: hydrolyzed wheat protein, hexylene glycol, sodium trideceth sulfate Fragrance-free: yes

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.

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, derm