This Is How To Clean Your Makeup Sponge Or Beauty Blender Properly

How to clean your beauty blender like a pro!

Your beauty blender or makeup sponge is probably a key part in your every day makeup routine, but let's face it, it can be pretty easy to neglect cleaning it. When it comes to cleaning your beauty blender, it can soak up lots of foundation and dirt from your face (and from lying around on your desk!) and can be really bad for your skin.

Although you should replace your beauty blender or makeup sponge regularly, you don't have to throw them out after every few uses and you can easily wash them a few times to extend their life. So, if you're wondering just how to clean a makeup sponge, here are the best tried and tested methods from across the internet.

Method 1: Soap + water

This is one of the easiest methods as it doesn't involve too much time or effort, and all you'll need is soap (either hand soap, or in a bar) which you'll already have at home.

Step 1. Wet your makeup sponge

Hold your sponge under warm water from the tap, until it is fully wet and expand in size.

Step 2. Add the soap

If you're using liquid soap you can add a few pumps directly onto the sponge and rub it in with your hands massaging your sponge on the back of your hand. Continue to hold the sponge under the warm water, squeeze and watch the dirt come out (this is very satisfying) and continue until the water runs clear. If you're using bar soap you follow the same process but instead rub the sponge directly onto the bar of soap until you get a lather. Make sure to fully rinse out your makeup sponge to get rid of all the soap, then leave it to air out until dry.

Method 2: Soak

If you're not in a rush to use your beauty blender or makeup sponge, this method takes a bit longer but is a good way to give your sponge a thorough clean if it really needs it.

Step 1: Prepare the soap

You'll need to get a clean mixing bowl (or you can use your sink, if it's clean!) and add some warm water and liquid soap or washing up liquid. Warm water straight from the tap should be fine, but you can boil water if you really want to kill the bacteria living inside your makeup sponge.

Step 2: Soak your makeup sponge

Simply add your makeup sponge into the soapy water and leave it for a few minutes.

Step 3: Clean and dry

Massage your makeup sponge a bit to run the soapy water through it and add more

soap if needed to certain areas. Then rinse it out under warm water and leave out to dry.

Method 3: Use the washing machine

Yep, you can really use your washing machine to clean your beauty blender and here's how. For this method to work you'll need to have a few sponges to hand, but if you like to use different size makeup sponges as part of your makeup routine, or you do makeup on other people this shouldn't be an issue. This is also the longest method, so if your wash cycle is going to be a couple of hours, make sure you're not going to need your makeup sponge.

Step 1: Add to washing machine

Gather up all of your dirty makeup sponges and put them in a net bag (you can get these on Amazon, or you might have one lying around the house).

Step 2: Put your wash on

Yeah, it really is that simple. You can use your regular laundry detergent and put on a gentle wash, with an extra rinse-cycle. Once your wash is done hang the net bag out to dry to make sure your makeup sponges are fully aired out.

Method 4: Use the microwave

If you thought the washing machine was a crazy idea, wait until you hear about this one. This is a really great way to kill the bacteria, as long as you follow the correct method or else you could end up with a melted sponge.

Step 1: Mix up soap and water

Using a mug or another microwave safe bowl mix together warm water and a few squirts of soap (either hand soap or washing up liquid). Wet your sponge under the tap until it's

wet then add it into your mug of soapy water.

Step 2: Turn on your microwave

Add your cup to the microwave for about a minute (be careful not to burn yourself when taking it out!) Your sponge should be nice and clean.

Step 3: Rinse

Take your sponge out of the mug and rinse it under the tap and squeeze out any soapy remains. Leave your sponge on the side to air dry.

And that's all there is too it! If you're in a rush the first method is by far the most popular and easiest, but for a deep cleanse the other methods work great too and won't take too long. While cleaning your makeup sponges or beauty blenders is the best way to kill bacteria, sometimes it might just be easier to toss them out so don't forget to grab a student discount at LOOKFANTASTIC to help you save on new sponges! Check out more makeup hacks and the best beauty dupes if you're on a budget.