13 Makeup Brush Cleaners That'll Help Prevent Bacteria Buildup

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.

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.

"There is extensive research demonstrating that virgin coconut oil is a potent antimicrobial agent," Dr. Xavier said. "Medium-chain fatty acid constituents of coconut oil including lauric acid, capric acid, and others provide antimicrobial effect by disrupting bacterial, fungal, and viral cell membranes, leading to cell death." 

More: Facial-Cleansing Brushes We Tried and Loved

Another recommendation from our experts, Morales uses this one whenever it's time to deep-clean her makeup brushes. 

The Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner has earned a slew of makeup-artist fans, and it's a cult favorite for good reason. It kills 99.9% of germs and dries almost instantly. 

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

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.

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 Bartlett's 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.

"This allows you to break down dirt, oil, makeup, and bacteria efficiently, and whisk it away with water. Think of this wet-cleansing method like a good hair shampoo. After cleansing, be sure to lay flat to dry on a clean, sanitized surface with a paper towel or clean cloth underneath to wick away moisture."

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.

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 from Breett, 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.

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.

For a truly clean feel every time you reach for your brush, grab this tried-and-true makeup brush cleanser from Clinique. 

It's gentle enough to use daily on your brushes without causing any shedding or breaking, yet it tackles built-up grime and bacteria like a pro. It's a great pick for refreshing your brushes in between washes.

Sephora's own Color Switch Brush Cleaner 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 the color is fully removed — and you're off to the next product. Yes, it really is that easy.

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.

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.