I know the struggle of keeping makeup brushes and sponges clean. Even on a daily basis, I love doing my makeup, and I have tried many different ways to clean these tools without ruining them. Here are some tips if you have the same issue!

First of all, make sure you are cleaning your application tools often enough. If you do your makeup every day, it is best to wash your brushes and sponges once every 2-3 weeks. This eliminates leftover makeup, bacteria, grease, and everything that you don't want to be putting directly onto your face every morning.

There are products such as micellar water that are made specifically for makeup removal. I have one from Ulta that came in a bottle to directly spray onto makeup brushes. You simply spray and wipe the brushes on a clean paper towel. However, this isn't very effective for makeup sponges or other application tools.

If you don’t want to invest in a special product, you can also use materials that are already at your house. Cover your makeup brushes in dish soap (the antibacterial kind if you have it!), and place them in a mug, bristles down, for about 15 minutes. Don't leave them soaking any longer, especially if your brushes have wooden handles. Then, rinse them well, and put in an empty mug, bristles up, to dry. This process works the same with beauty blenders, just squeeze out excess water and let dry on a paper towel.

Keep in mind that natural hair brushes, often with black or brown bristles, are more fragile and will shed more easily. On the other hand, synthetic hair brushes, often two-toned with a white or colored tip, are more durable. They both have benefits, depending on the specific use.

Whether you like minimal makeup or full glam, don't forget to clean your brushes and sponges!