How often should you clean your makeup brush and when do you have to throw away makeup? Everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your beauty tools.
When was the last time you cleaned out your makeup bag? From expired mascara to filthy cosmetic brushes, there's certainly a lot of clutter in your life that's getting in the way of the things you actually use.
Every day that you use makeup, you are introducing new microorganisms from your face into your pricey products. The germs multiply and swiftly split into your favorite cosmetics, and there comes a moment when you should just throw it out instead of risking severe pink eye or a breakout.
As inconvenient as it may appear, makeup products serve as a breeding ground for these annoying little animals, and you should replace your makeup on a regular basis to help prevent diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and molds that grow on them.
Your skin is an ecosystem
The skin, the body's largest organ, is made up of 1.8m2 of different habitats generated by folds, nooks, and crannies, making it the ideal home for all kinds of microbes. But don't start washing your face maniacally just yet; many of these organisms are harmless, and others even help the body's immune system.
Nonetheless, excessive exposure to some strains of yeast, viruses, and bacteria (for example, air pollution or touching the face with dirty fingers) can result in breakouts and even serious skin diseases. Even beauty applicators, which are a terrific method to avoid using our fingers to apply cosmetics, have an expiration date.
What to toss, what to keep, and what to keep clean
Beauty Blenders and Makeup Sponges
Replace: Anything that comes into regular touch with your face and all of its bacteria should be cleansed and replaced on a regular basis. A sponge, for example, which absorbs not only water but also dirt, bacteria, oil, and dead skin, should be changed every three months.
Maintain: Fortunately, Beauty Blenders and cosmetic sponges can be cleaned easily. Otherwise, mild cleanser or dish soap is fine. Wet your Blender and gently scrub it with a bar of soap. Squeeze off any excess water and product using a cloth.
Brushes
Replace: Because makeup brushes vary in quality, from synthetic to natural bristles and beyond, the lifespan of a normal makeup brush can range from one year to five years with regular maintenance. Because there is no hard and fast rule for how long you should keep your brushes, pay attention to the fullness and softness of the bristles, the cleanliness of the brush itself, and the wear on the handle—if these attributes begin to deteriorate, the brush need to be replaced.
Maintain: Brushes, like makeup sponges, come into contact with the skin and eyes on a daily basis, hence they must be cleaned on a regular basis. Wash the bristles gently with a brush cleaner or natural alternative and towel dry, leaving the brushes to dry on a small downward angle towards the bristles to prevent water damage. Washing should be done once a week or such. Higher-quality brushes are less resistant to shedding and will last longer as a result.
How Do You Know When to Throw out Makeup Brushes?
If you've been cleaning your makeup tools regularly but are still experiencing the concerns listed below, it's time to replace them. (The worst-case scenario is that you go shopping!)
They Look Frazzled
Makeup brushes can lose their shape over time, affecting performance. Consider stray bedhead bristles, dents, bends, and more. Deformed brushes are common when they are not properly washed, dried, or stored.
Bristles Are Falling Out
In addition to looking unkempt, outdated cosmetic brushes can begin to shed bristles. After using the brush, you may notice that it is thinner than it was before, or you may discover bristles in the bottom of your makeup bag or on your face.
The Bristles Are Super Stiff
The new brushes are incredibly fluffy and silky. Bristles can become hard and unpleasant against your skin after repeated use. It makes no sense to use makeup brushes that make you say, "ouch!"
The Handle Has Seen Better Days
Brush heads aren't the only portion of a cosmetics brush that can go bad. Handles can also begin to fall apart or appear and feel extremely worn. It's time to say goodbye if the brush isn't comfy to hold or doesn't keep together.
Your Makeup Doesn’t Apply Nicely Anymore
It might be difficult to decide whether to toss away makeup brushes because they often lose their sparkle gradually over time. If your brush isn't depositing your foundation, concealer, blush, or eyeshadow as well as it used to, it may be beyond its prime.
Pro Tip: This can happen when there is product buildup, so give your makeup brush a good deep clean, lay it flat to dry, and try it again to see if it helps.
They Smell Not-So-Great
If anything in your cosmetic bag smells bad, including your makeup brushes, it's time to say goodbye. Stinky makeup brushes suggest the presence of mildew, mold, or bacteria. That gets a "no thanks!" from your skin.
You’re Breaking Out
Makeup brushes can sometimes harbor dirt, filth, or bacteria without smelling terrible. Pay attention if you notice an increase in skin irritation or breakouts after using your brushes. Cleaning them may help, but if the irritation persists, remove them.
Face Cleansing Brushes
Anyone who has used a face cleansing brush, such as the Clarisonic Mia Smart Device, understands how transformative the tool can be for your skin-care routine. The Clarisonic brush includes interchangeable attachment heads that allow you to cleanse or massage your face at different levels.
So, how frequently should the brush heads be changed? A fresh attachment should be purchased every three months, according to dermatologists. Clean and healthy skin begins with good habits, which include taking care of the tools and equipment that clean, nurture, and improve our skin. I propose that patients replace the therapy brushes every three months, just like sonicating toothbrushes. After each usage, wipe the brush with soapy water to eliminate any environmental, cosmetic, or skin residue.
Eyelash Curler
Even though eyelash curlers are normally composed of metal or plastic and appear to be long-lasting, the Derma Expert says that the mechanics of the tool might wear down. Similarly, the rubber pad insert in a lash curler will degrade with time, becoming too compressed into the track it sits in, making it too low and squishy to curl, or producing a deep groove on the top that might trap your lashes.
Replace your eyelash curler and curler pad on a regular basis. "Curler pads should be replaced every three months for maximum effectiveness, and the complete curler should be replaced after one year," explains Maria Fernandes, Tweezerman's director of brand and product management.
Mascaras
Replace: Because the last thing you want is for mascara to spread bacteria to your eyes, which can cause conjunctivitis, sties, and infections, the recommended replacement interval for mascara tubes is roughly three months.
Maintain: Unfortunately, there is no true maintenance for mascara other than keeping the wand clean and avoiding 'pumping the wand' too frequently, which traps air and bacteria and dries up the substance.
Blushes
Replace: The lifespan ranges from one to two years, depending on the consistency of the blush, cream, or powder. Powders have a two-year shelf life since they do not contain oils or water, whereas creams have a one-year shelf life because they can separate and shatter. If you notice a darkening of the shade or caking of the substance, it's time to replace it.
Maintain: Any pan products should be wiped down with a clean makeup wipe on a regular basis, and any applicators used with it, whether brush or sponge, should be cleaned and replaced on a regular basis.
Eyeshadows
Replace Eyeshadows, whether singles or in palettes have a long shelf life: two years for powder shadows and one year for creams. Because you are repeatedly dipping into them, transporting them to your eye area, and then dipping again with the same brush, bacteria, dead skin, and other gross things can accumulate in the pigment.
Maintain: Palettes should be wiped off on a regular basis and thrown away if they become caked or crumbly.
Eyeliners
Replace: Since most of these items, except pot or pan ones, are administered directly into the eye via its in-built applicator, these need to be watched constantly to avoid infections. Pencil eyeliners, which can be cleaned by sharpening, can last up to two years, whereas liquid eyeliners have a significantly shorter lifespan—roughly three months. Like mascara, the pumping motion used to re-dip your brush traps bacteria in the tube, where it can remain.
Maintain: The bodies of pencil eyeliners can be wiped clean of excess product, while the tips can be cleaned by sharpening them on a regular basis.
Foundations
Whenever you buy a foundation or concealer, it is a good rule of thumb to replace it if starts to get oily and changes its texture. When the liquid foundation starts to smell bad, it's time to throw it out. In general, these products should last at least a year before signs of degradation appear.
Replace Foundations, whether liquid or cream, should be renewed every year because they are continually applied to the face and exposed to oil, dead skin cells, and debris. Your foundation's consistency, texture, hue, and fragrance should begin to change after one year.
Maintain: Maintain your foundations by avoiding the use of your fingertips, which can transmit bacteria. Clean any applicator you use on a regular basis, including brushes and blenders, and ensure sure your foundation is properly sealed after use.
Concealers
Replace Concealers, as long as they are kept clean and well-sealed, can last up to a year and a half before they need replacing. They, like foundations, will change color and smell when their time is done.
Maintain: Keep your concealer clean by wiping it down with a soft cloth every now and then. If the concealer is in a pan (rather than a tube), avoid contaminating it with your fingers or filthy brushes.
Moisturizers
Replace: Skincare, like makeup, has a limited shelf life and, because it is applied to your skin, should be followed. Moisturizers can last anywhere from 12 to 24 months, depending on the product. You may readily check this by reading the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol on the tub, which resembles a small tub with a number inside. '12M' denotes 12 months, '24M' denotes 24 months, and so on.
Maintain: To guarantee that your items last as long as possible, keep them out of direct sunlight and make sure the lids are always properly screwed on. If you can, try to avoid placing your fingers into the tub.
Lipstick And Lip Liner
As something that is frequently in contact with your mouth, you can imagine the bacteria that must grow on your lipsticks and lip liners if they are kept for an extended period of time. In an ideal environment, you would discard these goodies at least once a year, but if you avoid sharing them with others, you can keep them for up to 18 months.
Perfumes
Replace: Although it would not appear possible to utilize it all in this period, the recommended replacement timeframe for perfume is roughly 36 months.
Maintain: Maintain your perfumes by washing off the nozzle on a regular basis and storing them in a cold, dry place.
Nail polish
Replace: After 2 years. When a bottle is opened, some of the ingredients begin to evaporate. Toss it out if you see a thick, goopy, divided consistency where the pigments fall on the bottom after a good shaking.
Through this blog, I hope I was able to help you through the makeup replacement routine. As easy as it may be to save old cosmetics, your health should always come first, so you should follow a healthy replacement plan. Additionally, you don't want your old dirty, and oily foundation on your face, so take this as an excuse to go on a makeup spree!