When I talk about spring cleaning your makeup bag, I’m not just talking about updating your beauty look for the season (although it’s a great time to kill two birds with one stone, check out my latest makeup posts here). I’m actually talking about giving your products a health-check. You wouldn’t go for a year without cleaning out your fridge, and your makeup bag should be no different – these are products we use on our faces day in, day out and they contain use-by dates, which it can be dangerous to our health to ignore…
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Here are my top tips…
STERILISE:
Always make sure to clean your brushes. A good brush cleansing solution is one of my all time kit essentials.
SMELL:
If a product smells off, then it probably is off so don’t risk keeping it!
SANITISE:
Ensure you use hand sanitiser – Jao Hand Refresher is one of my staples.
STORE:
Make sure to keep cosmetics away from heat and direct sunlight.
THROW:
Old Sponges
STOCK UP:
Disposable Applicators
CREAMS AND LIQUIDS: 12-18 Months
If it’s a cream product, like a foundation, cream blush or cream eye shadow, then any separation, texture or colour-change means that your product has gone off.
POWDER PRODUCTS: 24 Months
Powders last longer than most cosmetics and can be kept for up to 2 years. Always use a clean brush and store your powders in a cool, dry place.
EYES: 3-4 Months
Mascaras and liquid eyeliners have the shortest lifespan of all cosmetics, lasting only 3-4 months once opened. If the product has gone dry or smells bad, then it’s a sure sign that it’s gone off.
LIP: 12-18 months
Lipsticks are wax or oil based so generally last longer than liquid products; 12-18 months if applied with a clean brush and stored properly.
PENCILS: 6 Months
Always sharpen eye and lip pencils before and after every use. Not only will you get a better result, sharpening helps to keep the pencils hygienic and prevents the spread of germs.
SPF: 12-24 Months
You must pay extra care with products containing SPF – if it smells funny, it’s a key sign that the preservative has gone off which means that your SPF is no longer providing protection!
READ NEXT: The Three-Step Cleanse (with video) | Spring Skin: Update Your Routine
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