Spring clean your beauty life

We sanitize our hands about a million times per day at this point, but your makeup kit needs some love, too. Yep, those brushes and sponges can harbor harmful bacteria and even, gasp, microscopic dead mites between the bristles. (Sorry to go there, but we thought you should know.)

Luckily, regular cleaning can nix those nasties, keep your tools in top shape and ensure your skin stays healthy. Here’s how...

SCRUB, SCRUB, SCRUB

It’s time to show your beauty tools some TLC. “Bacteria builds up on brushes,” explains celeb makeup artist and self-described “clean freak” Jamie Greenberg. “Not only is it gross, it can lead to breakouts.”

Once a week, deep clean your brushes and sponges with a cleanser like the Beautyblender Solid Unscented Sponge & Brush Cleanser ($16, beautyblender.com). “Add some water then swipe your brush back and forth over the soap to work out whatever is in there,” says Greenberg. Rinse them, gently squeeze out all the water and then lay flat with the bristles hanging off the edge of a table so they dry completely.