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The 13 Best Makeup Brush Cleaners

Cleaning your brushes is more important than ever.

makeup brush on silicone pad with foaming sigma brush cleaner
Sigma

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Giving your makeup brushes a proper cleaning is as necessary as cleansing your skin before bed. These days, we’re hyperaware of germs and the importance of proper cleaning in our daily lives. One area that often gets forgotten is our makeup stash and brushes. Read on for our favorite makeup brush cleaners to keep your tools germ-free.

Best Cleaning Mat

Norate Silicone Brush Cleaning Mat

On Sale
Norate Silicone Brush Cleaning Mat

This silicone mat offers just enough texture to scrub your makeup brushes clean while the suction cup at the bottom firmly affixes it to any surface. The silicone material is not only super easy to keep clean, it's not too harsh on the brushes. Use this with any of the foam, liquid, or gel cleanser products below to double its cleaning power. 

Best Cleansing Gel

Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel

On Sale
Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel

For under $10, this cleansing gel puts in work to clean up your beauty brushes. This alcohol-free formula 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.

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Best Electric Cleaner

RICRIS Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine

Amazon’s Choice
RICRIS Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer Machine
Credit: RICRIS

If your brushes are begging for a deep cleanse, then you need to break out the heavy artillery. Enter: This electric makeup brush cleansing set, which includes a bowl for washing and drying your brushes without making a major mess. It also includes eight attachment heads for all different brush sizes so you can clean your entire set in just a few minutes.

Best for Sensitive Skin

Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleaner

Amazon’s Choice
Ecotools Makeup Brush Cleaner

Have delicate pores? Then don't coat your brushes in irritable fragrances and synthetics. Instead, opt for this fragrance-free pick from Ecotools, which leaves all of the red-flag ingredients like parabens, phthalates, and petroleum-based ingredients to keep your complexion in tip-top shape.

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Expert-Recommended

Sigma SigMagic Brushampoo Makeup Brush Cleaner

Amazon’s Choice
Sigma SigMagic Brushampoo Makeup Brush Cleaner

We love Sigma's awesome brushes and adore the brand's makeup brush cleaner just as much. We trust the brand's guidance on best practices for brush cleaning, especially since it was founded by a scientist and engineer set on changing the beauty industry.

Their brush cleaner is one of the best we've ever tried. It's formulated with coconut oil and it penetrates brush bristles to remove even the toughest makeup pigment. 

Best Solid Cleanser

Beautyblender Blendercleanser Solid

Beautyblender Blendercleanser Solid

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 one of our favorites — and one of Kelli J. Bartlett's, Glamsquad's artistic director, too.

"In my opinion, the best way to give your brushes a deep clean is to shampoo them with a soap or cleanser specifically formulated for makeup brushes, like BeautyBlender Cleanser Solid or liquid,” she said. 

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Makeup Artist Favorite

Cinema Secrets Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner

Amazon’s Choice
Cinema Secrets Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner

Millie Morales, Garnier consulting celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist, uses this one whenever it's time to deep clean her makeup brushes. The Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner has earned a slew of other fans in the professional makeup artist industry, and it's a cult favorite for good reason. It kills 99.9% of germs and dries almost instantly. 

Mess-Free Cleaner

SEPHORA COLLECTION Color Switch by Vera Mona Brush Cleaner

SEPHORA COLLECTION Color Switch by Vera Mona Brush Cleaner

The Color Switch Brush Cleaner from SEPHORA COLLECTION is a dry, netted sponge that's able to remove pigmentation from tools without any liquid cleansers. To use this one, just swipe your brush in a swirl or windshield-wiper rotation until color is fully removed — and you're off to the next product! Yes, it really is that easy.

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Quick-drying Cleaner

IT Brushes For ULTA Brush Bath Purifying Brush Cleaner

IT Brushes For ULTA Brush Bath Purifying Brush Cleaner

The process of cleaning and drying makeup brushes can be a lengthy one, but with this quick-dry cleanser from IT Cosmetics, your trusted tools are ready to apply a fresh coat of makeup in minutes.

Alcohol-free Cleaner

MAKE UP FOR EVER Instant Brush Cleanser

MAKE UP FOR EVER Instant Brush Cleanser

Most makeup brush cleaners contain alcohol, so if you're not a fan of that, this is the brush cleaner for you. It's an alcohol-free brush cleanser that instantly purifies and removes all makeup from your brushes quickly and easily.

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Conditioning Formula

Bobbi Brown Conditioning Brush Cleanser

Bobbi Brown Conditioning Brush Cleanser

Bobbi Brown's luxurious answer to makeup brush cleaner will actually condition the bristles as it cleans. 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 for nourished brushes free of residue.

Affordable Option

NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP On the Spot Makeup Brush Cleaner Spray

Amazon’s Choice
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP On the Spot Makeup Brush Cleaner Spray

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.

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Classic Cleaner

MAC Brush Cleanser

Amazon’s Choice
MAC Brush Cleanser

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.

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makeup brush on silicone pad with foaming sigma brush cleaner
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