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Best Non-Toxic Brush Cleaners

We vetted brush cleaners against the Welpr Standard and here are our top picks.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Here's what we look for:

Simple formulas with fully disclosed ingredients that meet our standard
Free from parabens, PEGs, phthalates, harsh sulfates, BHA/BHT, formaldehyde, and undisclosed fragrance
Minimal preservative use
Transparent sourcing, materials, and manufacturing practices

Best Non-Toxic Brush Cleaners

On Welpr, terms like "non-toxic," "safer," "cleaner," "healthier," and "vetted" are editorial labels based on our own standard for product assessment. They are not guarantees, certifications, or medical claims. Learn more.

Top Pick

Ogee

The Brush Cleanser

Free From: Cruelty Free, Fragrance Free
Certified: Leaping Bunny
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Made in USA, No synthetic fragrance, Money-back guarantee, Solid, Manual cleaning

9.2

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
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Ogee
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Pros

Cleans even heavily caked-on foundation and concealer brushes in just a few minutes, noticeably faster than liquid cleaners.
Brushes come out soft and feel like new after drying, with no residue left behind.
Needs very little water to lather; you use a small amount of product per session.
Compact enough to toss in a bag, and the process is low-mess compared to liquid alternatives.
Virtually no scent; one person described a faint clean soap smell.

Solid soap format, not a liquid. You wet your brush, swirl it across the soap to lather, then rinse. It comes in its own jar with a lid, so there's no bottle to squeeze or spill.
The glycerin in the formula doesn't just clean; it conditions brush bristles while breaking down makeup buildup, which matters if you're using cream or oil-based products that tend to cling.
Smells like fresh grapefruit, courtesy of the essential oil in the formula, which also serves as a natural antibacterial agent.
Most brush cleansers rely on synthetic surfactants to cut through makeup. As a non-toxic brush cleaners option, this one uses an organic soap base derived from plant oils instead.
Ogee holds NSF organic certification across its line, requiring a minimum of 70% organic ingredients per product. Every ingredient here is plant-derived, and the product is made in the U.S.

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Budget Pick

Dr. Bronner's

Pure Castile Liquid Soap

Free From: Cruelty Free, Formaldehyde Free, Fragrance Free, Heavy Metal Free, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Sulfate Free
Certified: Certified B Corp, EWG Verified, Fair For Life, Leaping Bunny
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Fragrance-free, Essential oil-free, Recyclable packaging, Refillable, Recycled materials, Liquid

8.9

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
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Pros

Highly concentrated, so a small amount diluted with water still foams well and cleans effectively.
Works across a wide range of uses: hand soap, body wash, surface cleaner, floor cleaner, and even pet washing.
The unscented version has a truly neutral scent, making it easy to customize with essential oils for DIY projects.
A single bottle lasts months of regular use, even for a household with kids.
Doesn't leave residue on surfaces or skin after rinsing.

Cons

Once diluted with water, the soap becomes very thin and can splash out of standard pump dispensers; squeeze bottles work better.
The unscented version has a faint waxy or oily smell rather than being completely odorless.

True castile soap, meaning it's made by saponifying plant-based oils rather than using synthetic detergents or foaming agents. It cleans through real soap chemistry, not chemical surfactants.
Marketed as 18-in-1, and brush cleaning is one of the listed uses. You'll want to dilute it since the formula is concentrated (about 3x more than typical liquid soaps), so a small amount goes a long way per cleaning session.
The unscented version skips essential oils entirely, which makes it a straightforward non-toxic brush cleaners option for anyone sensitive to fragrance or cleaning makeup tools that touch the face.
Double the olive oil compared to Dr. Bronner's other scents, which adds more conditioning to the formula. That oil-rich base helps break down makeup and pigment buildup on bristles without stripping them.
Dr. Bronner's sources its oils through its own fair trade and regenerative organic farming projects globally, not through commodity brokers. The company recently reformulated to increase coconut oil content specifically to support more of these farms.

beautyblender

BLENDERCLEANSER Unscented Solid Cleanser

Free From: Cruelty Free, Fragrance Free
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Fragrance-free, Solid, Manual cleaning

8.9

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

The sponge blends makeup smoothly without leaving streaks or marks.
The solid cleanser outperforms regular soap for cleaning sponges and gets praised repeatedly across reviews.
The included carrying case is a nice addition, especially for travel.

Cons

Multiple people reported the sponge tearing or breaking apart within the first couple of weeks, sometimes during cleaning.
The included scrubber pad can damage the sponge; one person stopped using it for that reason.
The solid cleanser bar is small and doesn't come with a container, so storing it between uses is awkward.

Solid bar format, not a liquid. You swirl a wet brush or sponge directly across the surface to work up a lather, then rinse clean. Compact enough to toss in a makeup bag.
Designed to clean both makeup sponges and brushes, removing built-up product, dirt, and oil so your next application starts fresh.
The unscented version skips added fragrance, which matters if you're shopping for a non-toxic brush cleaners option and want to avoid sensitizing ingredients in your cleaning routine.
Beautyblender started as a tool brand founded by a Hollywood makeup artist; the cleanser line exists specifically to maintain their sponges, but it works on any brush or blender.

Golikee

Makeup Brush Cleaner Mat

Free From: Fragrance Free
Highlights: Mat cleaning

8.4

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
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Pros

The textured cleaning zones lift makeup residue out of brushes quickly, even from dense bristles that are hard to clean by hand.
Stable bowl design keeps the process contained and easier to manage than cleaning brushes in the sink freehand.
The upside-down drying feature helps brushes keep their shape after washing.

Cons

The drying holder slots are too small for most standard and larger brush handles; only thin-handled brushes fit reliably.
The silicone stains easily from makeup pigment, and the discoloration is difficult to fully clean off.
The holder piece that attaches for drying can detach during scrubbing.

One side works as a bowl with textured silicone ridges on the bottom for scrubbing brushes clean; flip it over and the mesh side holds brushes upside down so they can air dry without bending the bristles.
Four different texture patterns on the cleaning surface handle everything from dense foundation brushes to powder puffs and sponges.
The bowl walls are raised high enough to keep soapy water from splashing out while you scrub, which is a common complaint with flat cleaning mats.
Doubles as storage when you're not cleaning. The mesh side holds brushes upright between uses, so it's a non-toxic brush cleaners option that replaces a separate drying rack and organizer.
The silicone insert detaches from the outer frame for its own cleaning, so product buildup doesn't accumulate over time.

Sigma Beauty

Sigmagic Brushampoo Liquid Makeup Brush Cleaner

Free From: Cruelty Free, Fragrance Free
Certified: PETA Certified
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Hypoallergenic, Liquid, Manual cleaning

8.3

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
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Pros

Removes heavy, stubborn makeup residue from brushes with minimal effort.
Low sudsing formula rinses out quickly, making the whole cleaning process faster than with other products.
Only takes a few squirts per cleaning session, so the bottle lasts a while.
Brushes look and feel noticeably better after cleaning compared to using facial cleansers or spray-on products.

Cons

One person reported bristles falling out in chunks after a few uses.
No unscented version is available for people who prefer fragrance-free products.
One person found the product damaged the handles on their brushes.

A liquid brush cleanser that works more like a shampoo than a spray. You pump it onto wet bristles, lather on a cleaning tool, and rinse, so it gets into the brush fibers rather than just wiping the surface.
Formulated with only four ingredients, all plant-derived or mineral-based. Most brush cleaners have significantly longer ingredient lists with synthetic surfactants and fragrances; this one is fragrance-free.
Particularly suited for fluffy face brushes and beauty blenders, where makeup tends to build up deep in the fibers and surface-level sprays can't reach.
The antimicrobial properties keep bacteria from regrowing in brush fibers for up to two weeks after washing, which matters if you're someone who doesn't clean brushes on a strict weekly schedule.
Sigma was co-founded by a molecular bacteriologist, which explains the science-forward approach to a non-toxic brush cleaners formula that prioritizes antimicrobial function with minimal ingredients.

Jane Iredale

Botanical Brush Cleaner

Free From: Cruelty Free, Fragrance Free
Certified: Leaping Bunny, PETA Certified
Highlights: Vegan, Cruelty-free, Made in USA, No synthetic fragrance, Spray, Manual cleaning, Quick dry formula

8.1

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Pleasant citrusy scent that multiple people specifically highlighted as a standout feature.
Works well as a quick-clean option between deeper brush washes, removing pigment buildup with just a spray and a swipe on a cloth.
Conditions brush fibers and leaves them noticeably soft after use.
Only takes one or two sprays per brush, so application is fast and straightforward.

Cons

The fine mist spray disperses widely, which can waste product and burn through the small bottle quickly.
Better suited for maintenance between deep cleans than as a standalone cleanser; a few people noticed it didn't outperform plain water for heavy cleaning.
The scent is strong and lingers; most people love it, but one person found it overwhelming.

Spray-format cleaner that uses quick-drying alcohol and witch hazel to dissolve makeup, oil, and grime from brush bristles without needing to rinse or wait for a long dry time.
Meant as a between-washes solution: you spray it onto a towel and swipe the brush back and forth, so it works well when you need clean brushes quickly but can't do a full wash-and-dry cycle.
Works on both natural and synthetic bristles, and doubles as a cleaner for compacts or the inside of makeup bags.
As a non-toxic brush cleaners option, the formula is notably short (only five ingredients), relying on botanical extracts for cleaning power rather than synthetic surfactants or preservatives.
Has a noticeable grapefruit scent on application that fades quickly.

Abnaok

Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner

Free From: Fragrance Free
Highlights: Food-contact safe, Electric cleaning

8.1

Performance score

Where to buy

Amazon
See price

Pros

Simple to operate and does a good job loosening makeup and spinning water through brush bristles.
Comes with a scrubbing pad for deeper cleaning of brushes with trapped pigment.
Noticeably faster than fully manual scrubbing, even for thicker or waterproof cosmetics.

Cons

Many standard brush handles are too wide to fit the silicone cap slots, or too short to reach the water, forcing one-at-a-time manual dipping.
Heavily pigmented or stubborn residue often still requires hand scrubbing after running the machine.
Only accommodates 2 to 4 brushes at a time, so cleaning a full set is slow.

Unlike liquid or solid brush cleansers, this is an electric device: a motorized unit with a silicone container that spins at 7000 RPM to agitate and dissolve makeup residue off bristles without hand-scrubbing.
You add water and your own cleaning solution in a 1:1 ratio, load 3-4 brushes at a time, and press a button. The included silicone mat can be used separately for spot-cleaning stubborn stains by hand.
Works with both synthetic and natural fiber brushes across a range of sizes, from small liner brushes to large powder brushes. The silicone cover adjusts to hold different diameters in place.
Worth noting: this is a non-toxic brush cleaners tool, not a cleaning formula. You'll still need to supply your own brush cleanser liquid, so the safety of the overall process depends on what solution you pair it with.
Rechargeable via USB, so it doesn't need to be near an outlet during use. The silicone container doubles as a drying rack when flipped, letting brushes hang and air dry after cleaning.

How to Swap to Non-Toxic brush cleaners:

Here's how to swap to non-toxic brush cleaners:

What to know about brush cleaner

Brush cleaner is used to remove makeup, oil, and buildup from your brushes and sponges. Because it often touches your hands during cleaning and leaves residue on tools that later contact your face, the formula matters more than you might expect.

Residue left on brushes after cleaning can transfer to your skin with every use, especially around your eyes, lips, and cheeks.
Welpr looks at the full formula — including fragrances, preservatives, and surfactants — to make sure nothing unnecessary stays behind on your tools.

Check your current brush cleaner

Take a look at the brush cleaner you use now. Use the Welpr Personal Care and Cosmetic Scanner to snap a photo of the ingredient label and see if anything gets flagged.

Look for "fragrance" or "parfum" on the label — these often indicate synthetic fragrance that isn't fully disclosed.
Check the cleaner you use most often first, especially if you use it on brushes that touch your face daily.

Use your current brush cleaner more safely

If you're not ready to switch yet, a few small changes can reduce what ends up on your skin. A thorough rinse after cleaning makes a big difference.

Rinse brushes and sponges under running water for longer than usual after cleaning to remove as much residue as possible.
Clean brushes in a well-ventilated area, especially if your cleaner has a strong scent or comes in a spray format.

Choose a cleaner brush cleaner

Look for brush cleaners with simple, short ingredient lists built around plant-based oils or gentle plant-derived surfactants. Fragrance-free options are the best starting point since your brushes touch your face after every wash.

Skip products listing synthetic fragrance, parabens, phthalates, or harsh sulfates — solid or liquid formulas with minimal ingredients tend to be cleaner choices.
Click the button above to shop Welpr Approved brush cleaner.

Camille May

Cofounder & Product Curator

Camille May is the co-creator of Welpr and a guide for clean living. After selling her last company in the health food space, she went non-toxic while working to heal an autoimmune condition....

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Olushola M. Awoyemi

Medical Reviewer, PhD

Olushola M. Awoyemi (aka Shola) is a board-certified toxicologist and a research scientist with a PhD in Environmental Toxicology. Shola's long-term ambition is to be recognized as a world-renowned expert in toxicology,...

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