Cleaning out your Make up drawer may seem like a war zone of glitter, broken powder and foundation stains. We tend to keep that tube of mascara we love way too long, or that lipstick shade we haven’t worn since high school just because it is so nostalgic that you can’t come to terms with throwing it out. But how do you know when it is time to throw or swap these items out? I’ll give you a hint,
It’s Sooner Than You think.
Mascara
How Often Should I Switch Out My Mascara?
An essential that most of us who love lush lashes use almost every day is mascara. I have always been one to use a tube of mascara till it is almost dry, months longer than I should just because I’m putting off buying a new one. But, the healthy time to swap out your mascara is every three months. I know, shocking. Maybe it is so shocking because almost none of us do this.
But, the facts are the facts. Your eyes are a very sensitive part of your body and after a certain amount of months, bacteria starts to grow within that tube that can harm your eyes and can ultimately cause infection. You should also change your mascara after you have had any kind of eye infection to prevent further infection and you should never share your mascara with anyone else.
Beauty Blenders
When Should I Replace my Beauty Blender?
Beauty blenders and sponges are another common applicator for makeup and can hold dirt and bacteria over time. Because they are sponges, they absorb much more bacteria, oil, and product which results in quicker contamination.
Knowing this, three months seems to be a common theme here. You should replace your beauty blender every 3 months. Or replace it when it starts showing signs of deterioration, it remains discoloured after you wash it or you start breaking out for “no reason.” These are signs that your beauty blender needs to be replaced as well and can happen quicker than 3 months depending on how often and vigorously you use it.
Quo has a ton of choices for Blending Sponges. You can get smaller Cosmetic Wedges in bulk or specifically shaped bigger sponges sold separately like this All in One Blending Sponge.
Brushes
How Often Should I Clean My Makeup Brushes?
According to make up artists, cleaning your brushes regularly can extend the life of brush bristles. This makes for better makeup application. The reason for this is those brush hairs are porous, so they hold debris, oil, and bacteria. If they are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be more difficult.
So when it comes down to it, cleaning your brushes as much as you can is just a benefit to your makeup routine. Brushes that are used around the eyes should be cleaned twice a month, and other face brushes can be cleaned once a month.
Quo has a couple of inexpensive options for brush cleaners including a Cleansing Balm and a Rosewater Brush Cleaner. You can always use lukewarm water and light soap and it is just as effective.
When it comes to getting rid of your brushes and buying new ones, this may vary. You may need to buy new brushes every 1-5 years depending on their usage.
Eyeshadow
When should I toss my eyeshadow?
Similar to bronzers and blushes, powdered shadows can last up to 2 years before they need to be replaced. But be sure to pay attention to your brushes if you are using these shadows every day. Bacteria build up can happen if your brushes are not clean enough and that can result in eye infections, not a good look!
Cream shadows, on the other hand, are good for a year just because of the product and the consistency of it.
Lipsticks & Lip Glosses
How long can I apply my lipsticks and lip glosses until I should toss them?
For lipstick, the preservatives in the ingredients break down after 1 year. So you can continue to use your lipstick but you may notice a change in consistency and beads forming at the top of the product after this amount of time. This results in a poor application, so I recommend throwing it out if it gets to that point.
Lipglosses are another story. If they have a wand applicator, this cuts their lifetime in half to about 6 months due to bacteria build up. But if it is a squeeze tube, your lipgloss is safe for around a year because bacteria has a lesser change of getting into the product!
Foundation
How Long is my liquid foundation good for?
Liquid foundations should be tossed within 1 year. The extend their use to a full year try not to use your finger to apply the foundation, this could increase bacteria and cause your foundation not to last as long. Try using makeup brushes or sponges to increase the life of your foundation. Try buying foundations that are in a squeeze tube or bottle with a pump because these are less likely to get bacteria build up and easier to keep clean therefore they last longer.
To increase the lifetime of your foundation make sure to store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Also, make sure the lid is sealed at all times to prevent bacteria and drying out.
