Dirty makeup brushes and makeup sponges are often the not-thought-about culprits wreaking havoc on your skin. When not properly or frequently cleansed, these tools can become breeding grounds for dirt and bacteria and can have serious negative effects on your skin and makeup application — ick. To help you get rid of all the dirt and grime that might be living in your sponge and achieve a makeup look sans irritations, blemishes or clogged-pores, read on for this helpful step-by-step guide to show you the right way to clean your makeup sponges, including tips on how often you should clean and replace them. How Often Should You Clean Your Makeup Sponge?In a perfect world, you should be cleaning your makeup sponge at least once a week to get rid of product buildup, bacteria or any other gunk that might be hiding on or inside your makeup sponge. This helps to ensure that none of these pore-clogging culprits make their way to your complexion during your daily makeup application. Also, giving your sponge a weekly cleanse is important if you want it to last longer. Over time, product buildup on your sponge can make it harder to evenly apply cosmetics and can cause the sponge to look and feel, well, you know, kind of gross. To ensure its longevity, give it that weekly sponge bath, or more if you feel it’s getting very dirty due to your everyday makeup wear. It’s also important to note that you should swap out your makeup sponges every two to three months. If you’re in need of a replacement, we suggest giving the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Sponges a try. How to Clean Your Makeup SpongeSTEP 1: Rinse Your Blending Sponge With Lukewarm WaterTo start, simply run your dirty makeup sponge under lukewarm water and squeeze. To make step two a bit easier, try to remove as much product as possible during this step. The more you rinse and squeeze, the easier it will be to clean later. You want to get the water to run as clear as possible after squeezing. STEP 2: Lather With a Makeup Brush CleanserAfter you’ve given your makeup sponge a good rinse, pour some of the NYX Professional Makeup Brush Cleaner into a small bowl and submerge your sponge. Massage the solution into the sponge and then continue to rinse and squeeze under lukewarm water until the excess water runs clean. You may need to repeat this step a few times, so don’t be afraid to re-up on that brush cleaner until your sponge is completely clean.STEP 3: Allow Your Makeup Sponge to DryIn order to allow your makeup sponge to fully dry, place it on a paper towel in an open space. Don’t place a wet or damp sponge back in your makeup bag or in a confined space as this can be an open invitation for bacteria because there is no proper ventilation. STEP 4: Store Your Blending Sponge ProperlyAfter cleansing your sponge (and waiting for it to fully dry), you may want to consider keeping it separate from your beauty products in your makeup bag. Unless you disinfect them religiously, the germs and bacteria that may be living on the outside of the products’ packaging — simply caused by handling them throughout the day — can make their way to your sponge and reverse all of your hard work. We suggest either getting a makeup sponge case or investing in a cute makeup sponge holder to give it its own personal space on your vanity that’s safe from any germs.  Read More: At-Home Steam Facials Really Work — Here’s How to Make Them Part of Your RoutineA Personalized Skin-Care Routine for Every Skin TypeSave vs. Splurge: The Skin-Care Products Worth the Big Bucks 
