How To Clean Dry Makeup Brush Cleaning Sponge

We Researched the Best Makeup Brush Cleaners—These Are Our Favorites

We searched for cleansers that will brand your brushes sparkle

Nosotros independently inquiry, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more almost our process. If you lot buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Byrdie / Sabrina Jiang

Makeup brushes are essential tools in most every makeup routine. They practice everything from blending, smoothing, and buffing anything from foundation to bronzer onto the peel. And if you lot're applying makeup daily—whether a full face or but a touch of it—that means your brushes are working hard.

At present, here'due south the no-so-fun part. Over time, your brushes and sponges go the perfect breeding basis for leaner, expressionless peel cells, oils, and dirt. All this buildup can begin to clog your pores and crusade breakouts. Plus, dirty brushes don't piece of work too as clean brushes do—makeup tin cease upwardly looking streaky and uneven due to the gunky bristles. Grossed out yet? Don't worry—information technology'southward never besides tardily to start getting your brushes in perfect shape.

From daily disinfecting to deep cleaning, nosotros've rounded upward the best makeup castor cleaners out there. Nosotros take options that include everything you lot need in a brush cleanser: they're gentle enough to not damage bristles, they have solvents to dissolve buildup, and they're easy to use.

What We Like

Pretty packaging
Works quickly
Keeps brushes soft

What We Don't Like

Not for deep cleaning

This pink bottle is a best-seller for a reason. Users honey this cleanser for a number of reasons, including its ease of apply. Simply apply the formula onto your brush or into a towel, then run the brush back and forth on the towel until clean.

Active Ingredients: Sodium trideceth sulfate, hydrolyzed wheat protein | Size: vii.ix fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratuitous: No | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Like

Dries quickly
No rinsing required
Smells nice

What We Don't Like

Contains parabens

For makeup artists (or just about anyone), this liquid cleaner is a godsend. Non just is information technology quick-drying, only it'due south 99.99% antimicrobial disinfectant, which effectively kills bacteria. Plus, it tin be used on both natural and synthetic fibers.

Active Ingredients: Isoparaffin hydrocarbon, hydrotreated heavy naptha | Size: 8 / 32 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratis: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

What Nosotros Like

Portable, travel-friendly size
Tin can be used daily
Dries quickly

What Nosotros Don't Similar

Doesn't come up in a larger size

For a few bucks, you can have a castor cleaner wherever you get. Pocket-size, but mighty, y'all're able to tote this spray almost anywhere, including your carry-on. The formula is gentle enough for everyday use, and then if you're a total clean freak, you tin spritz this on at the end of each solar day. Just brand sure your brushes are fully dry before using the next morning.

Agile Ingredients: Booze denat. | Size: 2 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratuitous: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Like

Lathers well
Lightweight gel texture
Removes powder residual well

What Nosotros Don't Like

Contains parabens

I've been using this cleanser gel for years. Information technology's convenient to purchase—observe it at whatsoever drugstore—and it successfully gets the ick out of my brushes. Information technology's too free of alcohol and lathers quite nicely. Pair it with our favorite mats below for major cleaning power.

Active Ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine | Size: 5.1 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yep | Byrdie Clean: No

What Nosotros Like

Fragrance-gratuitous
Won't dry out brushes
Strong, constructive formula

What We Don't Like

Value could exist better

Become instant purification with one spritz. Spray straight onto your brush, and then rub in circular motions over a tissue or paper towel to remove debris. Bonus: This spray has no fragrance for those with a sensitive nose.

Size: 4.7 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratuitous: No

What We Like

Gentle formula
Cheap for a large bottle
A little goes a long fashion

What We Don't Like

Can go out a slight residue

Fussy peel? Like your makeup or skincare products, the cleanser for your brush shouldn't irritate your peel either. Which is why nosotros beloved this brush cleansing shampoo from EcoTools. Information technology'south dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, and formulated with institute-derived ingredients, then information technology'south safe and gentle for fifty-fifty the most sensitive skin types.

Agile Ingredients: Decyl glucoside, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate | Size: 6 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Plant extracts do the dirty piece of work in this deep cleaning formula. It works to gently strip backlog oil and makeup from bristles, without damaging them. Pair with a mat or simply use your palm—lather up with the brush, then rinse with h2o.

What We Like

Easy to apply
Comes in a variety of scents
Works on sponges

What Nosotros Don't Like

Not vegan

With ingredients like goat's milk and coconut, this solid brush cleanser is a great culling to its liquid counterparts. Simply swirl the bristles onto the bodily product under running water and watch leftover makeup and balance go right down the drain.

Active Ingredients: Caprine animal's milk | Size: ii fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yep

What Nosotros Like

Piece of cake to utilise
Works quickly
Big bottle

What We Don't Like

Takes a lot of product to clean brushes

This cleanser option is great for everyday utilise—simply spray your brushes on both sides, wipe off dirt and debris with a tissue or towel, then permit dry. Air drying should take just a few minutes, and you're gear up to apply your brushes.

Agile Ingredients: Sodium trideceth sulfate, hydrolyzed wheat poly peptide | Size: 8 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratis: No | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Similar

Lathers well
Keeps brushes soft
A little goes a long way

What We Don't Like

Contains a formaldehyde-releasing agent

This foaming cleanser not merely gets every bristle squeaky make clean only also atmospheric condition them at the same fourth dimension. After drying, the cease result is a soft, flexible finish.

Agile Ingredients: Cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium laureth sulfate | Size: four fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Like

Works rapidly
Inexpensive
No rinsing required

What We Don't Similar

Small bottle

Need a make clean sponge immediately? This waterless spray eliminates surface stains quickly, even in the centre of applying a full confront of makeup. To refresh your sponge, spray onto the sponge until information technology'southward completely saturated, and so wipe onto a tissue or towel to remove makeup.

Active Ingredients: Isododecane, cyclopentasiloxane | Size: 2 fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

What Nosotros Like

Removes grime
Cleans multiple brushes at once
Fun color

What Nosotros Don't Similar

Doesn't include a cleanser

Transform your sink into the ultimate cleansing station. We beloved this large mat for when you accept to clean every brush in your arsenal. With seven textures, it gets the grime out of all your brushes—whether it's a dumbo contouring brush or a soft eyeshadow blender. Using your fave cleanser, swirl brushes into the mat and launder every speck of bacteria away.

What We Similar

Fits comfortably in mitt
Has three textures
Removes grime

What Nosotros Don't Like

Doesn't include a cleanser

Want the power of a mat, merely would rather keep it meaty? This handheld version is for you. Whether you're right or left-handed, the adjustable strap is able to adjust to any hand shape and size. Not only does information technology fit right in the palm of your hand, but it'due south also got three textures to clean every type of castor.

What We Similar

Beautiful packaging
Dries quickly
Leaves a fresh scent backside

What We Don't Similar

Expensive

Sure, this gorgeous bottle would elevate your vanity lineup, but it's the formula inside that does all the work. It cleanses, disinfects, and conditions your makeup brushes for a smoother application and longer brush life. You demand two sprays, 1 on either side of the brush, then tissue off, and air dry for upward to two minutes.

Active Ingredients: Dimethicone, caffeine | Size: five fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Like

Removes powder remainder
Lathers well
Tin can be used on peel

What We Don't Like

Non for deep cleaning

This unique wash specifically targets pulverization-based makeup formulas, like pigmented chroma or contour. With ingredients derived from amethyst and coconut, this foaming formula effectively gets rid of buildup, even deep within your brushes. Pro tip: Don't add h2o until you're ready to rinse your brushes off.

Agile Ingredients: Kokosnoot extract, probiotics | Size: vi.four fl. oz. | Cruelty-Gratuitous: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

What We Similar

Keeps brushes soft
Inexpensive
Bachelor in multiple sizes

What Nosotros Don't Like

Can exist messy

No alcohol ways no drying and no irritation. We recommend spraying onto a towel, saturating it, and then running the head of the brush confronting that wet surface until it's make clean. This tin can exist on both natural and synthetic bristles.

Active Ingredients: Isododecane, tea tree oil | Size: ii / 6.viii fl. oz. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

What to Look For in a Makeup Brush Cleaner

Gentle, Non-Dissentious Formula

With proper intendance, your makeup brushes should last for years. Byrdie writer and makeup creative person Ashley Rebecca notes that "if yous don't wash your brushes and take intendance of them, y'all will first to see over time that they become very potent in texture, usually resulting in them simply needing to be thrown out." Because it'due south and then of import to wash them regularly, you'll want to choose a formula gentle enough to not harm your brushes bristles.

Solvents

As much as yous don't want to overdo information technology with harsh chemicals that volition make your brushes lose bristles quickly, a cleaner should contain some blazon of solvent to aid interruption down any buildup of product. You can even cull 1 that doesn't require any water.

Ease of Use

Ideally, y'all'll accept plenty of time in front of a sink to do a thorough launder. But for those times you lot don't, a spray cleaner that air dries is a groovy bet. Choose a brush cleaner based on what your personal daily habits and beauty routines are, and how often you're in a place where yous tin can do a thorough cleaning that involves a sink and running water.

FAQ

Is a makeup castor cleaner worth it?

Definitely! Provided you utilize your brushes regularly, of class. If makeup brushes live in the back of a drawer and yous bust them out on rare occasion, decided for yourself—only if you use one or more brushes on a daily, or fifty-fifty weekly footing, you'll be best served past owning castor cleaner.
What is the easiest mode to clean makeup brushes?

For liquid makeup cleaners, Rebecca instructs users to massage the production "into the hair [of the brush], move it dorsum and forth on the mat to really work the production into the brush, then rinse under water until information technology runs clear and in that location's aught left to get out."
How often should yous make clean makeup brushes?

It's recommended that you clean your makeup brushes every two weeks, ideally. If you use your brushes less ofttimes, you can probably make clean them monthly instead, without issue. You can likewise employ a spray cleaner in between formal washings.
Tin vinegar clean makeup brushes?

Vinegar may help remove some of the bacteria from makeup brushes. However, information technology might not practise much to remove heavy buildup. Information technology's oft used as a single step in a multi-step brush cleaning process, for actress disinfecting.