How to Clean a Beauty Blender (Without Damaging It in the Process)

Ah, the Beauty Blender. Ever since the bouncy pink makeup sponge entered our lives well over a decade ago, it’s been a steady constant in our beauty routines. The signature teardrop-shaped sponge reaches every corner and curve of your face, and true to its name, it blends your makeup to the smoothest finish.

Given its widespread popularity, there is still a surprising amount of confusion around how to use and care for the sponge. For starters, you always want to wet your Beauty Blender before every use; this will cause it to double in size and soften in texture so that you get the best results.

Next, there’s caring for your Beauty Blender. A sponge, by design, is made to soak up and hold onto moisture. Without proper hygiene practices, your Beauty Blender can quickly become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria (which is then transferred to your face whenever you use it). If you’re prone to breaking out or have easily irritated skin, this can cause breakouts.

Luckily, keeping your makeup sponge clean isn’t as complicated as you might think. We’ll walk you through the quickest and easiest ways to keep your Beauty Blender fresher, longer.

We know what you’re thinking: Who has the time to wash their makeup sponge every day? Considering that you have to wet your sponge before using it anyway, you’re already halfway there. To give your sponge a quick clean, all you have to do is run it over a bar of soap (opt for something mild like the Dove Beauty Bar or Beauty Blender’s own solid cleanser) and work it into a light later. Then, rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear and repeat as needed.

If you need a slightly deeper clean (let’s say, for a well-loved sponge), you’ll follow most of the same steps outlined above but with a textured silicone makeup pad or mitt. Once you’ve applied soap to the surface of your sponge, you’ll rub it over the silicone pad. The grooved ridges and nubs will help to dislodge any makeup from the nooks and crannies of your sponge without causing unnecessary damage to it. Rinse clean and voila!

Just like double-cleansing your face, using an oil-based cleanser with a water-based one can be highly effective in removing leftover makeup from your sponge.

To do this, plop your sponge into a small bowl of water and add one pump of cleansing oil to help loosen up any makeup and stubborn stains. After a few minutes of soaking, use your regular cleanser to work the sponge into a foamy lather before rinsing any residue clean.