Do you clean your make-up sponges often enough? Find out when and how to do this

Make-up sponges: these objects are famous for the way they have revolutionized how make-up is applied and you probably use them all the time now. But how often do you clean these sponges? Just like everything, make-up sponges need to be kept clean.

In fact, just like the sponges we use in the kitchen, make-up sponges are an ideal breeding ground for bacteria: they eventually become clogged with make-up, sebum (body oils), sweat and dead skin. And they are usually located in a humid environment (the bathroom) - perfect conditions for bacteria to thrive in! Given this, it should be obvious that not cleaning make-up sponges can impact the health of your skin.

How to wash make-up sponges

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You can get commercial products to clean make-up sponges, but these are only really good for quick, superficial cleansing. Deep cleaning requires a little more patience, but fortunately, this only requires soap and water.

Get a small bowl, fill it with warm water and mix a few drops of a delicate soap into it - we recommend using an anti-bacterial soap. Alternatively, you can use shampoo, or even Marseille or Castile soap.

Immerse the make-up sponges into the water, squeezing them so they absorb the water and don't float. Then start working on each sponge: squeeze and release each sponge repeatedly for 15-20 seconds, to flush the sponge and dislodge dirt residue.

When you have cleaned each sponge like this, you can rinse them out: if, while rinsing, you still see make-up residue, repeat the above operation. Only when the rinsing water runs clear, can you be sure your sponges are clean and can be put out to dry.

To dry the sponges, keep them off surfaces - place them on a grate/grid/grill of some kind and in a dry spot. To speed up the drying, wrap and compress each sponge in some clean paper toweling or a soft, clean cloth to soak up excess water.

How often should you wash your make-up sponges?

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In an ideal world, you would wash your make-up sponges after each use. Realistically, however, this is not feasible for most people.

Washing make-up sponges should be done at least once a week: if postponed beyond this time, cleaning efforts will be fruitless (and it will probably be better to get new sponges).

To sanitize make-up sponges thoroughly (after washing), you can soak them for 5 minutes in hydrogen peroxide, then rinse and dry as described above. You should do this sanitization once or twice a month.

How often should you replace your make-up sponges?

Depending on frequency of use, it is recommended that you change your sponges every month (if used daily); otherwise, once every 3 months should suffice. However, when you see that make-up will not wash out and/or and the sponge starts to break up, it is time to change it.

It's worth taking these precautions to ensure your skins stays clean and healthy!