The makeup sponges They are loved by artists and hobbyists alike as they create a very natural, wet finish. And with so many shapes and sizes out there, you can trust them for everything from foundation and concealer even the shadows or the blush. All its uses are very versatile, but: how do you clean these little things?
You may have seen a viral trick here and there about the best way to sanitize your makeup spongesbut we are here to tell you the best tried and true ways.
Why you need to wash your makeup sponges
You need to wash your sponges for the same reason you need to wash your makeup brushes: in the same way that they’re good for absorbing and transferring makeup, they’re good for doing just that for a bunch of other things.
Natural oils, bacteria, makeup, dead skin cells, dirt and grime build up on the brush, and then you reapply it daily, this can lead to many skin problems: acne, dermatitis contact, infections, etc.
If that doesn’t scare you into wanting to keep your makeup sponges really clean, (although you should), this buildup can also affect the sponge’s function: dirty and overused sponges just don’t work as well as freshly cleaned ones. .
How often should you wash your brushes?
There is what we know we should do and what is a reality. In a perfect world, experts say wash them with every use. It is highly recommended to clean the sponge daily.
With daily use, any makeup tool can accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, oil, pollution, and bacteria. So just like washing your face or brushing your teeth every day, this will help keep your makeup tools in tip-top shape.
But if you just know you’re not going to be as diligent, every three or four uses is fine, or at least once a week.
And in case you want some sensory cues that the sponge and brushes are due for a bath, there are obvious visual cues of how dirty the sponge is.
If you use your damp sponge, you’ll also start to feel it squish differently when there’s too much product built up inside. And this is very unpleasant; very dirty sponges will begin to smell funny. Wash your sponges before that happens.
Rinse your makeup sponges manually with mild soap and water
It’s pretty simple: grab your sponge and soap and head to the sink or kitchen sink. Moisten the sponge, apply a small amount of your soap and begin to lather between your hands. Rinse regularly while you do this.
On the first rinse, the water will likely look quite thick with makeup, but with diligent work, it will start to clear up. You have finished your work when the water becomes clear again and there is no more foam left.
As for soap, there are many loofah-specific washes on the market, but any mild, fragrance-free option will do in a pinch. You can stay away from sodium lauryl sulfates because it’s a detergent that washes into our waterways, and avoid fragrances because they can damage the foam in the sponge.
Harsh or harsher soaps (such as traditional shampoos or dish detergents) can cause problems in another way: One of the most important steps is that you must thoroughly rinse the soap out. If you don’t rinse thoroughly, your sponge can get a bit hard and dense.
Liquid dish soap and shampoos clean sponges, but they contain so many foaming agents that they can be really difficult to rinse completely.
Some soaps risk shortening the life of the sponge. If you’re using something that’s not alcohol-free and gentle and not formulated for makeup tools, you run the risk of breaking the foam.
Try a silicone cleaning pad
For the true makeup fanatics who go for everything, you can also use cleansing pads. These are simply silicone tools that have little indentations, spikes, and nodules that help you work the sponge or brush more thoroughly.
They are especially useful for brushes as they allow you to get between the bristles.
While there are several varieties, most work more or less the same way: apply soap and water, grab your pad, and move the sponge in a circular motion, being careful to work all sides.
Just be careful with how hard you’re doing your moves. You have to be careful because they can scratch the delicate surface of the sponge.
Skip the microwave
There seem to be endless articles and posts on how microwaving can be used to kill germs and bacteria. But almost all experts say to skip this trick. With good old fashioned soap and water, they work fine.
Most sponges are made from antibacterial foams, so the idea that heating them will make them more sterile is not accurate; in addition, they can alter the chemical composition.
Always allow adequate drying time
After rinsing, you should always allow proper drying time and ventilation on your makeup sponges. After washing or using the sponge, you should always make sure to let it air dry in an open space. Never throw it in the makeup bag.
Remember you just washed your sponge, so why would you want to dirty it again by exposing it to all the things you just washed? You can also speed up the drying process by wiping off the water with a clean towel.
Your makeup sponges, along with your brushes, can quickly get grimy and cause a lot of skin problems, not to mention they just don’t work as well as when they’re clean. But when it comes to washing them, skip all the internet fads and gimmicks – a mild, natural soap really is your best friend.