Eye shadow poses a special kind of makeup brush conundrum: Either use the same brush for each shade -- and risk muddying the colors -- or painstakingly juggle multiple brushes. Thankfully there's a third option. Sephora Collection Color Switch by Vera Mona Brush Cleaner, $18, is a dry sponge that rids your brush of colored pigment, sans cleaner or water, allowing you to use the same brush through the entire process, while still keeping your color pure.
Just swipe your brush over the sponge to remove lingering pigment before moving onto your next color. Once you feel like the sponge has become saturated with pigment, wash it with warm water and a bit of soap, and let it dry. Yes, you'll still have to clean your brush periodically, but you'll nix the time and hassle of cleaning multiple brushes prior to every application.
Packed with ultra-conditioning ingredients, like soothing goat milk, the balm-like Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser, $20,
not only sloughs off makeup residue and powder, but it maintains the plush feel of your brush's bristles. It's perfect for traveling, so we recommend throwing one (or two or three) in your bag for piece-of cake-cleanings that yield professional results. The icing on the cake? It's available in both coconut and unscented formulas.
Essentially a miniature dishwasher for your brushes, BrushPearl Cosmetic Brush Cleaner and Cleanser, $99, is the first product of its kind. Utilizing ultrasonic technology, the tiny machine sends -- wait for it -- sound waves through the water and the brand's signature cleanser, essentially vibrating and shaking leftover makeup from your brushes. The machine may cost a pretty penny, but can you really put a price tag on the peace of mind you get from squeaky-clean brushes?
