Makeup Artists Agree—These Are the 12 Best Makeup Brush Cleaners for Flawless Application and Clear Skin

Best Overall

MAC Cosmetics Brush Cleanser

$20 at Amazon $20 at Nordstrom $20 at Macy's

Key Ingredients: Sodium trideceth sulfate, hydrolyzed wheat protein | Size: 7.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

There’s a good reason why the MAC Cosmetics Brush Cleanser is a longtime best-seller. It’s super easy to use—you can apply it directly to the brush or onto a towel and rub the brush against the towel—and it helps condition bristles while cleaning them. It’s a top pick for Telwar Kaicker, who says that it’s extremely effective at removing debris from brushes. Overall, we think it’s a great choice for those who want a quick, no-rinse cleanser that keeps brush fibers soft and fresh while extending their lifespan.

Best Budget

e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner

$6

$5 at Elfcosmetics.com

Key Ingredients: Denatured alcohol | Size: 2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Not only is this a super affordable pick, but it’s also very portable, making it the ideal addition to any makeup bag. Mist the quick-drying spray onto your brushes after each use to ensure they’re fresh and ready to go for the next day. Ideal for daily cleaning, this affordable cleanser is great for frequent makeup brush users, particularly those who travel or clean brushes after every application.

Best Mat

Sigma Beauty Brush Cleaning Mat

$38

$34 at Amazon $38 at Ecosmetics.com $38 at Bloomingdales

Key Ingredients: Silicone | Size: 9 x 6.5 inches | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for anyone with a big brush collection or who dreads deep-cleaning day, the Sigma Beauty Sigma Spa Express Brush Cleaning Mat helps make weekly brush washing quicker and more thorough. The silicone mat has seven different textures that target different brush sizes and shapes, helping loosen foundation, powder, and other makeup buildup that can be stubborn to remove by hand. Just secure it to your sink with the suction cups, add your cleanser, and swirl your brushes across the mat to clean them more efficiently.

Best Antimicrobial

Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner

$18 at Amazon $34 at Sephora $15 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Isoparaffin hydrocarbon, hydrotreated heavy naptha | Size: 8, 32 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for makeup artists and anyone who needs their brushes ready to use quickly, Cinema Secrets Original Blue Vanilla Makeup Brush Cleaner is a rinse-free formula that cuts down on drying time. Instead of washing brushes with water and waiting overnight for them to dry, you can dip the bristles into the solution, wipe away makeup, and have them ready again in minutes. The professional-grade formula works on both synthetic and natural bristles and helps remove stubborn products like waterproof makeup, making it a practical choice for busy artists or anyone who cleans their brushes frequently.

Best Solid

Jenny Patinkin Vegan Makeup Brush Soap

$19 at Amazon $19 at Dermstore $19 at Cosbar.com

Key Ingredients: Coconut milk | Size: 2.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you travel frequently or are just tired of dealing with liquid brush cleansers, the Jenny Patinkin Makeup Brush Cleaner Soap gives you a mess-free way to deep clean your tools. The compact solid bar easily fits into a toiletry bag without the risk of leaks, while the coconut milk-based formula helps break down makeup residue and condition bristles as it cleans. It works on both synthetic and natural brushes and comes with a cleaning pad to make lathering up your brushes easier.

Best Electric

Ricris Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer

$22

$20 at Amazon

Key Ingredients: N/A | Size: Package, 5.63 x 5.51 x 4.21 inches | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for those who don’t want to spend time cleaning makeup brushes at all, this foolproof electric device will do all the hard work for you. Simply attach your brush to the electric spinner (it features attachments for eight different sizes), add some water and the cleanser of your choice to the bowl, turn it on, and watch in amazement as the gunk and residue immediately come off. Dump out the liquid and spin again to get your brushes dry in 10 seconds flat.

Best for Deep Clean

Sigma Beauty SigMagic Brushampoo

$24

$17 at Amazon

$24

$17 at Ulta View on Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil | Size: 6.76 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s something deeply satisfying about using a foaming brush cleanser like this one from Sigma Beauty to get your brushes extra sudsy and squeaky clean. Best for those who prioritize clean beauty products, this cleanser uses coconut oil rather than sulfates (a synthetic detergent that can cause skin irritation) to create a sudsy lather. It effectively gets rid of tough foundation and blush stains, and a little goes a long way.

Best Quick Clean

Brushean Makeup Brush Sanitizer

$97 at Amazon $97 at Brushean.com $89 at Urban Outfitters

Key Ingredients: N/A | Size: 9.8 x 3.5 inches | Cruelty-Free: N/A

In an ideal world, we’d properly lather, rinse, and dry our full collection of makeup brushes each week. But for those low on time who want to keep brushes bacteria-free between washes, reach for this sanitizer, which uses UV-C light and ozone technology to eliminate 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. Simply pop your brushes inside the chamber (it fits seven), close the lid, and press the button. Five minutes later, they’ll be good to go.  

Best Drugstore

Real Techniques Miracle Deep Brush + Sponge Cleansing Gel

$8 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, glycerin | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for budget-conscious shoppers and anyone looking for a gentle weekly deep clean, the Real Techniques Miracle Deep Brush + Sponge Cleansing Gel is an affordable option that works on both makeup brushes and sponges. The gel-like formula lathers nicely, breaks down leftover makeup and residue, and rinses away easily without leaving tools feeling dry. It’s also dermatologist-tested for gentleness and alcohol-free, which is a nice touch for those with sensitive skin or natural bristle brushes that need a little extra care.

Best Natural

Jane Iredale Botanical Brush Cleaner

$22 at Amazon $22 at Lovelyskin.com $22 at Bluemercury.com

Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, grapefruit oil, seaweed extract | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you wouldn’t use chemical products on your skin, then why would you use them to clean your makeup brushes? This quick-drying cleansing spray from Jane Iredale relies on a cocktail of botanical ingredients to remove grime and reduce bacteria, including antimicrobial witch hazel, and conditioning grapefruit oil and seaweed extracts. A quick spritz and you’ll have cleaner, fresher, fluffier brushes in a flash.

Best for Sensitive Skin

EcoTools Makeup Brush Cleansing Shampoo

$7

$6 at Amazon $10 at Ulta

$9

$6 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Decyl glucoside, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate | Size: 6 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for sensitive skin and anyone who prefers fragrance-free beauty products, the EcoTools Makeup Brush + Sponge Shampoo offers a gentle way to deep-clean your tools once a week. The plant-based, dermatologist-tested formula is free of added fragrance and harsh-feeling ingredients, while still helping remove makeup, oil, and buildup from brushes and sponges. It rinses away easily and leaves bristles feeling soft, making it a good choice for anyone who wants to keep their brushes clean without using a formula that may be too drying or irritating.

Best Wipes

Artis Brush Cleansing Wipes

$19 at Amazon

$25

$8 at Byartis.com

Key Ingredients: Alcohol | Size: 30 wipes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for quick touch-ups between deep cleans, the Artis Brush Cleansing Wipes are a handy option for makeup artists, frequent makeup wearers, and anyone who switches between products often. The pre-moistened wipes help lift away leftover pigment, oils, and makeup residue without water, so you can refresh a brush in seconds and get back to applying makeup. They’re small enough to keep in a makeup bag or kit and leave brushes nearly dry after use, making them useful for travel, busy mornings, or changing colors between applications.