By Jane Ward

Keeping your make up brushes and sponges clean probably isn’t a high priority for most women, but It is a vital part of keeping your skin looking fresh. Cleaning brushes and sponges regularly will prevent them from becoming clogged with make up and will make them last longer, it also prevents dirt and bacteria on the brushes from getting transferred on to your skin and causing blemishes.

Brushes

To clean brushes you can use shampoo, antibacterial bar soap or liquid soap. There are professional brush cleaners available but for your personal use the soap is sufficient.

Use warm or hot water. A lot of make up is oil based so cold water won’t dissolve it properly. Wet the bristles with the brush pointing downward, this prevents the water from getting into the brush handle or dissolving the glue holding it together.

Work the bristles into a lather with your finger tips, be sure to clean from the bass of the bristles to the tip.

When you go to rinse the brush, if there is still make up rinsing from the bristles repeat the process until the water runs away clear.

Pat the brushes dry with a hand towel and leave them to air dry. If possible leave them in the airing cupboard as this will dry them quickly and thoroughly.

Sponges

Make up sponges are a little trickier to clean as they are porous and make up gets right into the middle of them.

When washing make up sponges a bar of soap is more effective. Hold the sponge you with to clean in the palm of your hand and rub as if you’re washing your hands.

Rinse the sponge thoroughly to make sure there is no soap residue in the centre of the sponge. Hold the sponge under a warm running tap and squeeze it.

Again leave them to dry in the airing cupboard or somewhere warm.