Your makeup sponge works hard to keep you looking fresh and fabulous, so why not return the favor? Let’s get real—when was the last time you actually cleaned your beauty tools?
We’re all guilty of letting our brushes and sponges get dirty, but you might be able to nip this bad habit in the bud once you consider the fact that sponges are a reservoir for bacteria.
With daily use, a sponge can accumulate oil, dirt, dead skin cells, and all kinds of bacteria. Cleaning your makeup sponge regularly will keep your skin happy as well as give your makeup game a boost and prevent stains and bacteria growth.
It’s recommended to wash your sponge after every use, particularly first thing in the morning, before applying makeup. But if that’s simply too time-consuming, try to aim for once a week to start with.
So, how exactly do you keep your makeup sponge squeaky clean and in tip-top shape without ruining it?
Wet and lather
Soap and water will get you the best results. You can use bar soap or dish soap. Both will work well for your purposes.
To get the most thorough clean, wet your sponge and rub it against the bar soap or dab a dime-size amount of liquid dish soap on the sponge.
The soap will cut through grease and remove oils, breaking down foundation and concealer residue with ease. Get in a good lather and take extra care with the stained sections. Work the soap into the sponge for about 60 seconds.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Rinse and repeat
Squeeze the sponge out under lukewarm running water until the water runs clear and the sponge is no longer sudsy. It can be difficult to remove excess soap from a sponge, so it might take a few rinses.
If you still see makeup residue coming from the washed sponge, repeat the lathering process. Stains on the sponge’s surface are normal. As long as the water runs clear when you’re rinsing, it’s clean.
Blot and dry
Roll your sponge gently on a paper towel and lay it flat to air dry. It can take a few days for sponges to fully dry after they’ve been scrubbed.
That’s why it is good practice to have several sponges in rotation, so there’s always a clean, dry one available to use.
When to replace your sponge
It’s time to toss your makeup sponge if you notice any tears or rips, lingering stains that refuse to budge, or if it feels soft and squishy instead of plump and bouncy.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to replace your sponge every three months if you’re using it daily. It can last for six months or more if you’re just using it occasionally.
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