I've tried facial cleansers, anti-bac soaps, etc., but nothing works like my MAC brush cleaner. I would never get my 217 and 239 to go back to the same color they were but with the MAC B/C I only have to wash them one time and they are like new. It works like hardly any effort, the shadows just run right off. It's $10, I think it's worth it because I've used the other stuff but the B/C works far better. IMO. It even removes the stubborn stains from my SK blending sponge.