We’ve been washing our hands a lot lately but other things in our life also need some TLC. When is the last time you washed or sanitized your makeup brushes? What about your hair brush? Can you even remember the original color of your makeup sponge?

Here’s your guide to scrubbing and sanitizing the at-home makeup tools you use every day. 

Makeup Brushes

Dirty brushes slather oils and dead skin cells onto your face which can cause acne. Avoid this by giving your brushes a once over. Fill a bowl or mug with a couple inches of warm water (boiling if you really want to deep clean) and a few drops of dishwashing liquid or a gentle shampoo. Some experts even suggest you add a drop or two of distilled white vinegar for extra washing power. Place brushes face down (with their handles up) in the water and let sit for 10-20 minutes. After that, take each brush out and run it under cold water, using your fingers to give it a final scrub. You can also use a comb to make sure each strand is buildup free. Place the brush on a clean towel to dry. Go the extra mile by wiping down the handles with a disinfectant wipe. 

How often should I clean it? : Once a week for face brushes. Eyeshadow brushes should be washed every time you want to use them on a new palette. 

Beauty Blender/ Makeup Sponge

We’re still haunted by that very cursed Reddit thread of people finding gross layers of old foundation in their makeup blenders. To avoid this, first run your sponge under warm water. While the water is still running, rub the blender all over with a bar of soap As you rub, keep squeezing so that the soap filters out of the sponge rather than getting caught in the middle. Continue lathering, squeezing, and rinsing until your sponge looks clean. Before finishing up, soak the sponge in cold water and squeeze until all the water is out. Set your sponge on a clean towel to dry. 

How often should I clean it? Once a week. You should also replace your sponge after about ten uses. 

Hairbrush

After daily styling, and nightly standing in for your karaoke mic, your hairbrush might be looking a little worse for the wear. Use a comb to remove hair from the bristles. Start at the pad of the brush and gently swoop the comb’s teeth upwards so you’re left with a hairball you can trash. If any strands get stuck or tangled, you can snip them off with scissors until you’re left with a fuzz-free brush. Next fill a basin or sink with warm water  and a squirt of dish soap or shampoo. Dunk your brush face down in the water, try to just soak the bristles because water could damage the pad of the brush. Dip the brush in and out of this mixter and shake the water off between each dip. This should dislodge any oil or product buildup. If that’s not quite enough, use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to meticulously scrub the gunk off the bristles and pad. When you’re done, lay your brush face down on (you guessed it!) a clean towel to dry. 

How often should I clean it? If you use a lot of hair gel or other products it’s a good idea to give your brush a bath at least once a week. If you use very little hair products it’s ok to go two weeks between washes. 

We hope this guide helps you keep every beauty tool fresh and ready-to-use. If you have additional questions (like “what the heck is that blue stuff in the jar of combs you use??”) set up a virtual consultation with your favorite Pro.