There's something enormously satisfying about cleaning makeup brushes. Watching the residue and colors run through the water until it turns clear and then knowing you're using a soft, fresh brush? *Cue sigh of satisfaction.* And not only is it satisfying — it's important! Investing in the best makeup brush cleaners can ensure that your makeup application process is smooth and seamless, as well as tailored to your skin's needs. And, if you're a little bit lazy and feel that you can't be bothered to clean your brushes regularly, there are tools that make it suuuper easy, so you'll barely have to lift a finger — seriously.
When it comes to keeping your beauty tools free of bacteria, the one question most of us have is: How often should you wash your makeup brushes? Well, it depends on how often you use them — and for what. Anything that you use on your face (think bronzer, blush, and foundation brushes) should be cleaned about once a week. Stick to a couple times a month for the rest of your brushes— like the ones that you use to apply eyeshadow or liner with.
But back to the actual method. Some makeup brush cleaners are quite simple: a soap-like solution that you apply to the brush, wash with water, and voila. A few makeup professionals even suggest using a simple, high-quality bar soap with warm water. You can also find products such as a washboard-like tool that works hard to get all the teensy-tiny particles from the fibers of your brushes. Another cleaning tool spins your brush around in a solution and when it's done, your brush emerges sparkling clean.
Below, we've rounded up a few of the most unique and useful options for getting those makeup brushes back in tip-top shape.