Yes, You Need to Clean Your Makeup Brushes.

How often do I need to clean my brushes?

Makeup brushes can build bacteria very fast, especially ones used around your eye.

Aim to clean brushes once a week. At the very least, every two weeks. Just use warm water with mild soap and swirl brush into palm of hand. It’s incredible to see how much foundation comes off! “Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria," she says. "If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult."

What's the right way to clean makeup brushes?

Clean, good-as-new makeup brushes and sponges are just seven steps away:

1. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water.

2. Place a drop of your cleanser of choice into the palm of your clean hand.

3. Gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm.

4. Rinse the bristles thoroughly.

5. Squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel.

6. Re-form the brush head back into its original shape.

7. Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of the counter, which allows it to dry in the correct shape. Never let your brushes dry on a towel — the bristles can turn mildewy.

Mid-wash, be sure to keep the base of the brush head (where it connects to the handle) away from soap and water. The bristles are glued to the base, and water and detergent can cause the glue to disintegrate and the bristles to come loose and shed. Also, avoid drying brushes vertically with the bristles up — this can cause water to leak into the ferrule (the piece that joins the bristles to the handle), which also will loosen the glue and lead to bristle loss.

How often do you need to clean and replace makeup sponges?

Regular makeup sponges (the inexpensive kind that come in bulk bags) aren't meant to be reused — toss those after a single use. Microbial-resistant sponges like Beautyblenders, on the other hand, are meant to be reused and can be safely used for three to four months. 

As with makeup brushes, make sure to clean your Beautyblenders at least once a week, as the sponges can become filled with skin cells, and bacteria can overgrow, according to Ava Shamban, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills.

Information is sourced from Allure