Spring Cleaning Your Make-Up Bag

Spring is finally here and with it comes longer days, warmer temperatures (hopefully) and sunshine.  It’s the perfect time of year to throw open the windows, air out the house, and give everything a thorough clean. 

While you’re scrubbing and organising, it’s important to take a little time to clean out your beauty supplies as well.
Cosmetics, like food, have an expiration date, and it’s very important to periodically go through your makeup stash and make sure everything is fresh.

 Cleansers and Moisturizers

These should have a shelf life of a year. To make them last longer just be careful about how you apply them, your fingers or your face should never come into contact with the top of the bottle, as this can contaminate its contents, instead apply creams to a q-tip or sponge, then apply to your face.  Also make sure that all cleansers and moisturisers are kept away from direct sunlight.

Sunscreen
Sunscreens should be tossed at the end of every season, after that they won’t be effective. Since you should be applying sunscreen every single day, a bottle shouldn’t last you longer than a season anyway.

Tip: Keep your sunscreen by your door in an easily visible place, that way you’ll be more likely to remember to put it on before you leave the house.

Foundation

Cream foundation is good for about a year, mousse foundation for about 9 months. Powder foundations can be kept indefinitely as long as you are careful to never touch the contents with your bare hands or a dirty brush.

Powder Compacts

The power itself can be good for up to two years, if stored separately from the puff; puffs should be either cleaned or replaced about once a month. If you store your puff inside of your compact the shelf life is closer to three months.

Eyeshadow

Powder eye shadows will last indefinitely as long as they are kept contaminant free. Never apply using your fingers. Cream shadows are good for up to a year if kept the same way.

Eyeliner and Lipliner

Eyeliner and lipliner pencils can be kept forever as long as you sharpen them before or after each use, you can also wipe them down lightly with alcohol every few weeks just to be safe.  Liquid or cream liners last closer to a year if kept properly. 

Tip: Always have two clean liner brushes available so that no double dipping is required in your eyeliner tins.

Mascara

Mascara should always be tossed after 3-4 months

Blush

Powder blush lasts an indefinite amount of time as long as it is kept contaminant free. Cream blush can be kept up to one year.

Lipstick and Lip-gloss

Lipstick can be kept up to a year and should be swiped with alcohol every three months.  Lip-gloss is good for up to six months.

Sponges and Puffs 

Sponges and applicator “puffs” should be replaced every single week, no exception.

Makeup Brushes 

Good brushes like good friendships can last forever, as long as you nurture them. Brushes should be washed with a gentle baby shampoo once every two weeks, and then dried standing in a cup with the handle down.
If you think your brush has been contaminated (or if you’ve had a cold or flu) you can rinse them in a solution of rubbing alcohol and water to sanitise.

Tools like Tweezers, Eyelash Curlers and Sharpeners

Metal tools should be cleaned after every use, by soaking them in rubbing alcohol for two minutes and rinsing.

Now keep in mind, these are all just guidelines, you know what your products should look, smell, and feel like, if it’s off, don’t use it.

Also how you store your products will determine how long they last. The bathroom is the absolute worst home for your products as the heat, and humidity will break them down.

Its best to keep your makeup in a cool dark, easily accessible place, such as a dresser drawer.

Be honest, when was the last tme you cleaned out your makeup drawer?

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