Ladies, how often do you clean your makeup brushes? From what we’re told by the legendary Sam Fine, it’s okay to clean them once a month.

I typically use dish washing detergent to wash my brushes, and this works like magic because the gel dissolves all the oils and pigments found on brushes. Plus, it’s quite cheap and multi-functional. But if you’re worried about the wear and tear of the brushes, the you’re likely to go for your pinch hitters like Lancome’s Bi-Facil.

But, I love discovering new products, especially those by indie brands because I do feel the quality is very high. Hence, our love for Cinema Secrets’ Professional Brush Cleaner, which the brand touts as “the world’s best brush cleaner.”

Photo: Matthew Minucci

The Brush Cleaner really and truly does remove all the pigments and oils in a flash, and leaves your brushes with a faint scent of vanilla. I don’t know about you, but I certainly am a vanilla junkie–it’s likely the universal favorite scent or note of choice. So, I was totally pleased when all my brushes came out with the hint of vanilla, which I was so happy with.

Cinema Secrets also aims to extend the life of your brush, and works well for both natural and synthetic brushes too. According to the brand’s web site, it is the only brush cleaner to remove 99.9% of the bacteria on the brushes. And for $12.99, this is a great value (you can also purchase a large jar of it, for professional use).

I was introduced to this product at The Makeup Show 2011 in New York City.

What is your favorite brush cleaner? Palmolive Dish Detergent, or something more tailored to your brushes?

– Charu Suri