How to Clean Your Perfecting Makeup Sponge

Even the best of us have put off washing our makeup tools—but after seeing countless videos of people cutting open their makeup sponges on TikTok, we can’t unsee the reality of what happens when they’re left unwashed for who knows how long. If anything, it’s made us a little obsessed with keeping our Perfecting Makeup Sponge as pristine as possible. 

Here’s how to really clean your makeup sponge:

1. Wet your sponge.

Hold it under running water until your sponge expands 1.5 to 2 times in size. If your sponge is caked in makeup, soak it in a small bowl filled with water and liquid soap. Let it sit for a few minutes to loosen up the buildup.

2. Get it soapy.

Work in any liquid, bar, or specialty brush-cleansing soap of your choice until you get a rich lather. Continue massaging the sponge to help break up the leftover makeup.

3. Rinse and repeat.

Continue to massage the soapy sponge under running, pausing to intermittently squeeze out the excess liquid. If necessary, repeat step two until you until the water rinses clean.

4. Squeeze and let dry.

Squeeze out as much water as you can, then leave your makeup sponge out to air dry completely before storing it in a cool, dry place.  

A few more tips:

    • Wash your makeup sponge regularly. Cleansing it after every use is ideal, but aim to do so as often as possible to prevent the buildup of bacteria, dead skin cells, and left-over product that can lead to breakouts and irritations. 
    • Keep another sponge on rotation. This isn’t necessary, but if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin and don’t have the time to wash your sponge so frequently, keep a clean makeup sponge on hand. You’ll have peace of mind with every foundation application—plus an extra day or two before you need to wash the used sponge.
    • Replace your makeup sponges. Pros recommend every three or so months if you’re using it daily. 
    • If you’re short on time, throw it in the laundry machine. Give it a quick soap rinse first, then toss it into a delicates laundry bag, throw it into the wash, and let the machine do the deep cleaning for you.

Replenish your sponge supply with our Sponge Trio. ✨