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Initially created for Hollywood makeup artists, Cinema Secrets’ makeup brush cleaner used to be a product you could only get at professional beauty supply stores. The cleaning spray helps clean off makeup brushes with a no-rinse, fast-drying formula. This is especially useful for artists who see multiple clients in a day, but it’s also a handy hack to keep at home for everyday makeup users who are too lazy to regularly give their makeup brushes a full bath.
As one of the latter, I knew it was time to finally try out Cinema Secrets’ brush cleaner for myself. Not only is it a quick fix but it’s affordable, with the full-size spray bottle priced at only $20. After a month of testing, I can confidently say that it’s the MVP of my makeup bag because it keeps all my brushes performing their best.
This quick and easy cleaner removes makeup and oil from makeup brushes in minutes. Plus, the no-rinse formula means that it's easy to use anytime, anyplace.
It also comes in a value set as an 8-ounce pourable bottle with a tin for $28, and other larger bottles are available too.
How I found the Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Spray
As I mentioned, this blue liquid has been a (not so) secret weapon among beauty industry pros for decades. I’ve spotted bottles of the stuff backstage during New York Fashion Week, and many makeup artists I’ve met swear by Cinema Secrets. Amanda Bell, a pro makeup artist and the director of artistry and education at Pixi, told me she’s been using it for over 10 years and it’s a key item in her kit. “It works so swiftly, breaking down pigment, creams and waxes effortlessly,” she said, adding that it also sanitizes and conditions your brushes, leaving them immaculately clean and in excellent condition.
Plenty of my fellow beauty editors love it as well. Danielle Cohen, a freelance beauty writer and the creator of Glossed Over, has kept an extra-large jug of the brush cleaner by her vanity for at least five years. But its not just for beauty industry folks. “Cinema Secrets is obviously great for makeup artists, but I think it’s equally useful for the average makeup user,” Cohen said. “Let’s be honest: No one’s cleaning their makeup brushes as often as they should. I only get to them every two months or so, and I’m willing to bet I’m more diligent than most. Cinema Secrets is so easy to use, and it helps keep brushes clean (or at least cleaner) between washes.”
Nikita Charuza, a freelance beauty and fashion editor and the founder of Squigs, is also a longtime Cinema Secrets user and said that she started using it because her old brush cleaner never left her makeup brushes actually feeling clean. Cinema Secrets hasn’t let her down yet.
Why it’s a score
As Cohen said, we all know that we should be washing our makeup brushes far more often than we actually do. Even after writing a guide about how to clean makeup brushes — and learning about how they harbor bacteria that can cause breakouts or worse — I admittedly still didn’t make it the weekly habit experts recommended. And the thing is, cleaning makeup brushes isn’t even a time-consuming chore. When I actually do it, it takes all of 10 minutes to get through a dozen brushes. I’d argue that it’s the drying time that makes most of us avoid lathering them up. Sometimes it can take over 24 hours for denser brushes to fully dry out and be ready to be used again, and that’s something you have to plan around if you typically wear makeup every day. That’s why Cinema Secrets’ brush cleaner is such a useful find. You can effectively clean your brushes of pigment and oil, and they’ll look and feel fresh within minutes. It’s really quite magical the first time you try it.
Using Cinema Secrets is like a daily tune up that’ll help the integrity of your brushes in the long run too. You won’t have to wash them as vigorously if there isn’t a ton of product buildup on them in the first place. And at $20 for the 6-ounce bottle, it’s a total score. I’ve barely made a dent in mine after a month.
It’s so nice to see my clean brushes every day, and it’s even more satisfying to see the makeup seemingly melt off them each time I reach for Cinema Secrets. I simply spritz the head of the brush a few times, and then gently rub it over a cloth to wipe off the makeup. I like using a Makeup Eraser for this since they are specially made to wipe off makeup and they’re reusable. The seven-day set is literally perfect for the job, so I have a fresh one for each day of the week. This method manages to take away the pigment of my brightest blushes and even clears bristles of shimmery eye shadows. Sometimes it’ll take a few rounds of spritzing and wiping for each brush, but this all takes mere minutes. Add a couple more minutes for the brush to dry, and that’s it! I’m left with a fresh, dry clean makeup brush that’s as good as new.
The only drawback for me is the smell. I ordered the original vanilla scent (there’s also lemon-scented version), and it only slightly masks a distinct chemical smell that lingers a bit as the brushes dry. Thankfully, the sharp smell dissipates after a few minutes and then only the sweet vanilla scent is left behind.
I love the convenience and affordability of the spray bottle version of Cinema Secrets, but it also comes in larger bottles for what the brand calls the “dipping method.” This involves pouring a bit of the liquid into a small bowl or cup and dipping only the tip of the brush in the cleaner before wiping them off.
Cinema Secrets also offers an all-natural solid brush soap, which beauty and lifestyle journalist Vanese Maddix prefers, although she loves both. “I preferred the soap version more, as it was more thorough, and the liquid is more for quick use on the go,” she said.
FAQs
According to Cinema Secrets’ website, the ingredients in the vanilla-scented makeup brush cleaner are naptha, lightalkylate, isoparafin hydrocarbon, fragrance D and C green #6, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycolf.
The bottle notes a 24-month shelf life once it’s been opened.
When using the Cinema Secrets brush cleaner, the dry time will depend on how much you saturate the brushes and how dense the brushes are. For example, my small, fluffy eye shadow brush takes a couple minutes to feel dry to the touch and ready to use again. Whereas my larger, denser foundation brush requires several rounds of spritzing and wiping with the cleaner, and takes about five minutes to completely dry.
Why trust CNN Underscored
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw tested the Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner Spray in her own routine and called on other beauty industry pros that consider it a favorite product.
