Pls allow me to share this fun albeit disgusting fact: As many as 90 percent of products in the average makeup bag are contaminated with bacteria like staph and E. coli. Sooo yeah. It’s time to start cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges more regularly. And listen, I get it, disinfecting your tools can be time-consuming and annoying, but it’s truly so important. Using dirty brushes and sponges on your skin can lead to breakouts, clogged pores, irritation, and more seriously, infections like pink eye. Plus, when your tools are clean and free-from build-up, they apply makeup more smoothly and last longer too.
So now that you know how important keeping your tools *actually* is, it’s time to add one of these nine best makeup brush cleaners to your cart ASAP. They’re easy to use and will make your brushes and sponges look brand freaking new.
This makeup brush cleaner comes with a cleansing balm and scrubber pad so you can get your bristles extra clean. Swirl your wet brush into the balm to create a lather, run them over the scrubber to dislodge any old makeup and build-up, and then rinse well with warm water and lay flat to dry.
Once a week, use this natural shampoo to clean your makeup brushes and sponges in seconds. The plant-based formula is free from fragrance (so it won’t irritate skin), parabens, and phthalates, and is 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free too.
This makeup brush cleaner from E.l.f. is proof that you don’t have to spend a ton of $$ to give your brushes a good wash. It only costs $4 and easily removes dirt, oil, and makeup from your brushes so they’re left soft and clean.
When you don’t have time to give your makeup brushes a deep clean and wait for them to dry, this instant cleaner is the answer. Just spray a little bit on a tissue and quickly wipe the tissue over your brush bristles to remove makeup and residue in seconds—your brush will be ready to use immediately after.
This solid cleanser is the perfect option for anyone who uses makeup sponges. It’s made with charcoal to absorb bacteria, build-up, and makeup from your sponge—and it’s sooo easy to use too. Just swirl your damp sponge into the cleanser, rinse well, and then squeeze the blender to remove any excess liquid.
Use his bb to clean your foundation brushes, eyeshadow brushes, powder brushes, and more. It’s formulated to remove build-up, disinfect bristles, and extent the life of your brushes—plus it helps speed up drying time so you don’t have to wait around for hours until your brushes are dry.
This brush cleaning sponge is ideal for when you’re switching between different powder formulas and shades in your eyeshadow palette while doing your makeup. Just buff your bristles into the sponge to quickly remove the pigments—no water or soap required.
Not only does this gentle brush cleaner throughly remove makeup and germs from your bristles, it uses conditioning ingredients to prevent your bristles from getting damaged and help them retain their shape and softness for even longer too.
If it’s been weeks—maybe even months (no judgement, it happens)—since you’ve cleaned your tools, reach for this detoxifying shampoo. It works on brushes and sponges and removes all the nasty stuff, like acne-causing bacteria, pore-clogging oils, and excess product.