At IMATS, I picked up the Parian Spirit Brush Cleaner. This high performance brush cleanser is targeted towards makeup artists, but I think it is the best brush cleanser for makeup newbies and pros alike. I got a large bottle of the cleanser (not pictured) , a small travel size spray bottle, a few handy cleanser wipes, and the cleansing tub:
The formula of the cleanser itself is amazing. It cleans and disinfects in a matter of a couple minutes, and it contains alcohol so the brushes dry very quickly and can be used almost immediately after cleansing. Here is the pamphlet that explains more about the cleanser and the recommended methods for cleaning and disinfecting brushes. If you click on the image below you can view a larger, more readable version.
The mini spray bottle is great for on the go, because you can spray the cleanser directly on the brushes and wipe them clean. The wipes are also handy as you can simply swipe your brushes across the wipe. However, the method that is most effective and recommended is using the cleansing tub. The tub is like a jar and it comes empty without any solution. It has a ring at the bottom with a plastic grate on top. The idea behind this is that the grate is raised about half a centimeter above the bottom of the jar, and when you clean your brush in the jar, makeup and dirt are removed from the brush, fall below the grate, and settle to the bottom. That way, the fluid above the grate is still clean and can be used to clean more brushes. This is the jar empty:
After pouring in some solution (I usually pour enough so there is a centimeter of cleanser above the grate), simply take a dirty brush and dip it in the solution for a couple minutes. Swish the bristles around and rub them against the grate to help loosen makeup particles.
In a matter of seconds the brush is clean:
