Alright, you’re about to dive into your makeup prep routine, ready to unleash your inner artist. But hold up—before you grab that foundation brush, let’s talk about something crucial: washing your face, your hands, and heck, even your makeup sponge. Yeah, I know it sounds kinda basic, but trust me, it’s the secret to nailing a flawless finish. We’re about to spill the tea on why these simple steps are the unsung heroes of your beauty routine.

1) WASH YOUR FACE: This is the first step when doing face prep for makeup, or skin prep before makeup. Washing your face is important for several reasons:

• Removes dirt and oil: Throughout the day, your skin accumulates dirt, bacteria, sweat, and excess oil. Washing your face helps to remove these impurities, preventing them from clogging your pores and causing breakouts.
• Prevents acne: Regularly cleansing your face can help prevent acne by removing pore-clogging substances and bacteria that contribute to breakouts.
• Maintains hydration: Washing your face with a gentle cleanser helps to maintain the natural moisture balance of your skin, preventing it from becoming too dry or too oily.
• Promotes skin renewal: Cleansing your face helps to remove dead skin cells, allowing for new, healthy skin cells to surface. This can improve the overall texture and appearance of your skin.
• Enhances effectiveness of skincare products: Cleansing your face prepares your skin to better absorb the active ingredients in skincare products like moisturizers, serums, and treatments, making them more effective.
• Prevents premature aging: Removing makeup, dirt, and environmental pollutants from your skin helps to prevent premature aging by reducing the risk of oxidative damage and collagen breakdown.
• Improves overall skin health: Consistently washing your face helps to keep your skin clean, clear, and healthy, which can boost your confidence and overall well-being.

2) WASH YOUR HANDS: This should be your first step whether it’s for makeup prep, skin prep, or overall face prep for makeup Washing your hands before applying makeup is essential for several reasons:

• Removes dirt and bacteria: Your hands come into contact with various surfaces throughout the day, picking up dirt, bacteria, and other germs. Washing your hands before touching your face or makeup tools helps to remove these contaminants, reducing the risk of transferring them to your skin or makeup products.
• Prevents breakouts: Dirty hands can transfer bacteria and oils to your skin, which may clog pores and lead to breakouts or exacerbate existing acne conditions. Washing your hands helps to minimize this risk, promoting clearer skin.
• Maintains makeup hygiene: Clean hands are crucial for maintaining the hygiene of your makeup products and tools. Touching makeup with dirty hands can introduce bacteria and other contaminants into the products, potentially causing them to spoil faster or become contaminated.
• Ensures makeup application precision: Clean hands provide a clean canvas for applying makeup, allowing for more precise application and blending. Dirty hands may transfer oils or residues onto the skin, affecting the texture and finish of the makeup.
• Reduces the risk of eye infections: When applying eye makeup, such as mascara or eyeliner, it’s especially important to have clean hands. Bacteria transferred from dirty hands to the delicate eye area can increase the risk of eye infections or irritation.
• Promotes overall hygiene: Practicing good hand hygiene by washing your hands before applying makeup is an important aspect of overall personal hygiene. It helps to prevent the spread of germs and reduces the risk of illness or infection.

3) WASH YOUR SPONGE: This is a non-negotiable part of makeup prep. When properly and routinely cleaned, these are perfectly sanitary to reuse on yourself. And unlike a brush there’s no dry time, since they are best used wet. Washing your makeup sponge as face prep before applying foundation is important for several reasons:

• Removes bacteria and dirt: Makeup sponges can harbor bacteria, dirt, oils, and old makeup residue if not cleaned regularly. Washing your sponge before each use helps to remove these contaminants, reducing the risk of transferring them to your skin and causing breakouts or infections.
• Prevents makeup buildup: Over time, makeup residue can accumulate in your sponge, affecting its texture and performance. Washing the sponge removes this buildup, ensuring a clean surface for flawless makeup application.
• Enhances makeup application: A clean makeup sponge provides a smooth and even application of foundation, concealer, and other complexion products. Washing the sponge helps to maintain its softness and elasticity, allowing it to blend makeup seamlessly into the skin.
• Reduces product waste: A dirty makeup sponge can absorb more product than necessary, leading to product wastage. By washing the sponge regularly, you can ensure that it retains less product and provides more efficient makeup application.
• Prevents skin irritation: Makeup sponges that are not cleaned regularly may harbor allergens or irritants that can cause skin reactions or sensitivities. Washing the sponge helps to eliminate these potential triggers, reducing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions.
• Prolongs the life of the sponge: Regular washing helps to prolong the life of your makeup sponge by keeping it clean and free from damage caused by product buildup or bacterial growth. A well-maintained sponge can last longer and provide better results over time.

Alrighty, let’s wrap this up! Washing your face, hands, and makeup sponge might not sound like the sexiest part of your routine, but trust me, it’s the real MVP. Whether it’s makeup prep, skin prep before makeup, or face prep for makeup, these steps are necessary. When you cleanse your face, you’re clearing the canvas for makeup magic. And washing your hands? Well, that’s just common sense to keep those germs at bay. Oh, and don’t forget about your trusty makeup sponge—giving it a good scrub ensures it’s ready to blend like a dream. So, next time you’re getting glam, remember: clean creates glam. Keep it fresh, keep it clean!