If you’re like most beauty-lovers,  you know that a good quality beauty blender is essential for getting the perfect application of foundation, concealer and other makeup products. But, if you’ve ever used one before, you know that they require a lot of maintenance and care. Not only will it last longer, but cleaning your beauty blender regularly will also help prevent bacteria buildup and keep your face looking flawless. If not properly cleaned and stored, your beauty blender can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus which can cause skin irritation and acne. To ensure your skin remains healthy, it’s important that you clean your beauty blender regularly. Here's how to do it the right way.

Use Soap & Water
The simplest and most effective way to clean your beauty blender is with soap and water. Start by dampening your beauty blender with warm water, then apply some mild soap or cleanser directly onto the sponge. Gently massage the product into the sponge until it forms a nice lather, then rinse thoroughly with warm water until all of the soap has been removed. Make sure to squeeze out any excess water from the sponge before moving on to step two. Do not use harsh soaps like dishwashing detergent as they can damage the delicate material of the sponge. Also, be sure not to scrub too hard—gently massage the soap into the sponge using circular motions until all dirt is removed. 

Air Dry
Once you’ve rinsed off all soap residue from your beauty blender, it’s time to let it air dry. Do not use a towel or other fabric as this could cause streaks on your wet sponge which can transfer onto your face when applying makeup later on. Instead, just leave it out in open air and let gravity do its job! It should take around an hour for it to fully air dry depending on humidity levels in your area.

Use Cleansing Wipes
If you don't have time for a full cleanse, cleansing wipes are an easy way to quickly remove dirt and makeup residue from your beauty blender without having to use too much water or product. Simply take one of the cleansing wipes and gently wipe down both sides of your sponge until all of the makeup residue has been removed. Then simply throw away the used wipe and pat dry your sponge with a clean towel before using it again.

Invest in a Cleaning Solution
If you want something that's more thorough than just using soap and water, investing in a dedicated cleaning solution is worth considering. This solution can be sprayed directly onto the sponge and then massaged into the surface before being rinsed off with warm water. Be sure to follow up with a proper drying process afterwards so that no moisture remains inside of the sponge itself.

Alternative Cleaning Methods
If you don’t feel like washing your beauty blender often, there are other ways to keep it clean without having to do so frequently. You can invest in a UV light cleaner that will help kill all the germs on the surface of the sponge by shining ultraviolet light on it for about 10 minutes at a time. You can also buy special sprays designed specifically for cleaning beauty blenders which will help remove dirt and residue when used regularly.

Properly cleaning and caring for any makeup tool is important—but especially so when dealing with sponges like beauty blenders due their porous nature which makes them prone to bacteria growth if not cleaned regularly. With regular maintenance and care, you won't have to worry about replacing them anytime soon.