Even if you invest in top-of-the-line beauty products, you could be compromising your makeup routine with a simple mistake you might not even know you’re making. The beauty blender is a holy grail beauty staple that makes applying makeup easy, but many people forget that it needs to be cleaned regularly. 

Just like your makeup brushes, your makeup sponges need to be cleaned regularly to keep them free from germs and working well.

Beauty blenders soak up makeup and bacteria, so when you don’t clean it, you’re spreading oil and germs on your face every time you use it. Fortunately, there is more than one way for you to get the germs out of your beauty blender and get it squeaky clean again.

How to Clean Your Beauty Blender With Dish Soap

Using dish soap is one of the most popular ways to clean a beauty blender. Dish soap is gentle on the makeup sponge and can easily remove the buildup of foundation and concealer. 

Step 1: Dab a small amount of dish soap onto the sponge

First, apply a small dab of dish soap onto the sponge. Dawn soap or other similar dish soaps that remove grease will work well. Massage the dish soap into the sponge for at least 1 minute. 

Step 2: Lather the soap into the Beauty Blender

After massaging the dish soap into the sponge, use your fingers to push it into the sponge. Then, soak it in warm water for a few minutes. 

Step 3: Rinse the sponge

Squeeze the sponge to remove the suds and excess water. Then, rinse it until only clean water comes out of the sponge when you squeeze it. Place it onto a towel and leave it there to dry.

How to Clean Your Beauty Blender With Oil

Oil is another common and easy way to clean your beauty blender. Since oil breaks down oil, it works effectively to remove the oils and built-up makeup on your sponge. If your Beautyblender has a thick layer of buildup, this is a great solution to getting it clean again.

Step 1: Apply oil onto the sponge

First, add a few drops of oil to your dry beauty blender. Coconut oil and olive oil work as effective cleaners for makeup sponges. Rub the oil into the sponge until it works its way into the sponge and begins removing the residue. 

Step 2: Soak it in sudsy water

Put your Beautyblender into a bowl or cup of warm sudsy water. This will help to remove any excess makeup and bacteria that are still stuck on the sponge.

Step 3: Rinse and dry the sponge

Once it looks clean, remove the sponge from the sudsy water and place it on a towel to dry. Make sure you place it in a dry ventilated area to ensure there’s no leftover moisture when you use it next.

How to Clean Your Beauty Blender With a Bar of Soap

If you don’t have dish soap or oil, there is an alternative that you can try to clean your beauty blender. A bar of soap will do the trick and will leave your makeup sponge looking and feeling brand new.

Step 1: Soak the sponge

Start by soaking your makeup sponge under warm running water. Make sure the beauty blender has expanded in size and is full of water before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Rub the sponge against a bar of soap

Take your bar of soap and rub the beauty blender against the bar. Apply a small amount of pressure to ensure the soap gets into the sponge and builds up a lather. 

Step 3: Rinse and dry the makeup sponge

Once you’ve created a thick, bubble lather, it’s time to rinse the sponge. Rinse the sponge under cool running water until the water coming out of the sponge is clear. Then, place it onto a towel and leave it out to dry.

How To Clean Your Beauty Blender With a Microwave

Cleaning your Beauty Blender by popping it into the microwave went viral but does it work? While you can clean your makeup sponge with a microwave, you can potentially start a fire, so ensure you follow the steps carefully and watch your beauty blender at all times.

Step 1: Add dish soap and water to a bowl 

Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm water. You’ll want to make sure there is enough water in the bowl to completely submerge your beauty blender in it. Then, add the sponge to the bowl and squeeze it.

Step 2: Microwave the bowl

Pop the bowl into the microwave for a minute. Watch the beauty blender to make sure it’s submerged in the water and doesn’t melt or start a fire. Wait at least 30 seconds before removing the sponge from the bowl.

Step 3: Rinse and dry the sponge

Next, place your makeup sponge under cool running water and squeeze it a few times. Then, put it onto a towel and leave it out to dry.

When It’s Time to Replace Your Beauty Blender

Eventually, there comes a point where no matter how many times you clean your makeup sponge, it just won’t clean properly. If you use your beauty blender regularly, it should be replaced every 3 months for the best results possible. If you use it occasionally, it could last up to 6 months if cleaned regularly. 

Here are a few signs to look out for to know when it’s time to swap your beauty blender for a new one: 

• Your sponge has tears or rips in it
• Missing pieces from your sponge
• Stains that don’t wash out, no matter how many times you wash them
• Your beauty blender feels soft and no longer has a firm, bouncy feel to it

Should You Wash Your Beauty Blender Before First Use?

While you don’t have to wash your beauty blender before first use, you can choose to give it a gentle wash— this is entirely up to your preferences. It’s recommended that you soak your beauty blender in water before using it, as this activates the material and makes applying makeup a much smoother process.

How Often Should You Clean Your Beauty Blender?

One of the most common questions asked is how often you should clean your beauty blender. Ideally, you should clean your beauty blender after every use. Since this isn’t realistic for everyone, it’s best to clean your makeup sponge at least once a week to keep it in the best condition possible.

FAQ

1. What happens if you don’t wash your Beauty Blender?

When you don’t clean your makeup sponge regularly, makeup like foundation and concealer will start to build up on your sponge. Every time you use your beauty blender, you’ll be spreading germs and bacteria onto your face, which can cause skin irritation, redness, breakouts, and more. 

2. Can I wash my Beauty Blender with hand soap?

Yes! It’s completely fine to use hand soap to cleanse your beauty blender and to remove any lingering makeup, bacteria, and oils. Grab your hand-soap and run the beauty blender back and forth along the soap to give it a good lather. Then, rinse and dry it for a pristine makeup sponge that’s ready for use.

3. How do I know if my Beauty Blender has Mold?

Since beauty blenders are intended to be used wet and easily hold moisture, they can be susceptible to mold growth. If your beauty blender has mold, you’ll most likely be able to see it. Look out for small or large dark spots— these can be a sign of mold buildup. You may also notice a strange smell coming from it, which means it’s time to toss it out and buy a new one.

Makeup sponges are an easy way to apply makeup for a flawless finish. If you wash your beauty blender at least once a week, you’ll be able to keep it working smoothly and for longer, giving you the best results possible.