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8 hair products for monsoon frizz that aren’t another serum
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Everyone knows they should be cleaning their makeup brushes more often than they actually do. It’s the skincare equivalent of flossing. Doing it properly takes soap, water, a towel and the better part of an hour waiting for bristles to dry. Multiply that by every brush you own and it stops feeling like a reasonable way to spend a Sunday.
But the truth is, the chore part of brush cleaning is mostly a tools problem, not a you problem. The right makeup brush cleaner or makeup brush cleaning tool can turn a process you dread into something you do without thinking twice—think, sponges that pull pigment out in seconds, cleansers that don’t need rinsing and mats and gloves that make the whole thing faster and less messy. While buildup on your brushes affects how your makeup applies and how long it lasts, a good rotation of cleaning products makes keeping up with it easy.
Here’s the thing about foundation and concealer brushes: pigment sits deep in the bristles, not just on the surface, which is why swirling on a plain paper towel never fully works. This textured sponge is built to pull the trapped colour out fast, so you can go from a warm foundation shade to a cool concealer without any colour transfer. It’s not a deep-clean product, but more of a reset-between-the-steps tool, and it earns its spot for exactly that. Keep it by your vanity for quick colour swaps mid-routine.
Most people clean brushes by rubbing bristles straight into their palm, which is oddly ineffective and not great for your skin either. This silicone pad has textured ridges designed to do that agitating work for you, breaking down product buildup at the base of the bristles where it tends to hide. Pair it with any cleanser of your choice and it instantly makes the process more thorough. Once you use one, scrubbing brushes in your bare hand will feel like a downgrade.
Solid cleansers solve a problem you didn’t know you had: liquid formulas often get diluted with water before they’ve actually broken down oil and pigment, which means you’re rinsing more than you’re cleaning. This bar skips that step entirely. Just swirl a damp brush directly on the surface and watch it lift product out immediately. No measuring, no premixing, no guessing how much to use. It’s the closest brush cleaning gets to a satisfying, one-step ritual.
A lot of brush cleansers clean at the cost of the bristles themselves, leaving them stiff or frizzy after a few washes. M.A.C’s version is formulated to clean and condition at once, so your brushes stay soft and blend-ready instead of scratchy over time. This matters more than it sounds—a stiff, damaged brush applies makeup worse no matter how good the product is. If you invest in your brushes, this is the cleanser that protects that investment.
Here’s a fact that changes how you think about brush hygiene: bacteria builds up on brushes faster than most people realise, especially if you’re using the same brush across multiple products or touching your face throughout the day. This spray-on formula needs no water and no drying time, just a spritz and a wipe, and your brush is clean and ready again in seconds. It’s the reason professional makeup artists can move between clients without a 20-minute break for washing. A great one to keep in your bag, not just your bathroom shelf.
Most brush buildup hides exactly where you’d least expect to look—right at the base of the bristles, not the tips you’re used to focusing on. This textured mat is designed with different ridge patterns specifically to work into that base, wherever soap and water alone tend to miss. Swirl a soapy brush across it, and the grooves do the deep work your fingers can’t replicate. It’s a small tool, but it’s the difference between a brush that looks clean and one that actually is.
