Caring for Cosmetics

Makeup Brushes

Brush cleaner is specifically designed to clean your makeup brushes and condition the bristles so they last the longest and always work their best.  Using soap and submerging your brushes in water can loosen the glue that holds the bristles in place and dries them out.  The easiest way to clean your brushes is to spray brush cleaner on the ends of the bristles and wipe the brush lean and dry on a paper towel.  You will have to repeat this process until you get all the makeup off.  After they are clean, you should reform the shape of the brush with your clean hands and lat flat to dry thoroughly.  If you buy quality brushes and take care of them, they will last indefinitely.

Nail Polish

Store nail polish right side up, out of the sun in a cool place.  Bottles on their sides will result in separated product.  Sun and heat can cause clumps and thickening.  Keep the tops of your bottles clean from polish (so you can open them easily), by using remover and a cotton to take off product around the mouth of the bottle.  Make sure the tops are screwed on tightly, obviously air will ruin your polish.   

Don’t apply polish to dirty nails, bacteria on the nail can cause contamination of your bottle of polish and potentially lead to fungal infections and other nail diseases.  There are ingredients in nail polish that fight microbes/bacteria from multiplying, but that doesn’t mean you should risk contamination.

Creams, Cleansers, and Other Products

Always keep your products clean and dust free.  Never stick a dirty finger into your jars, use a Q-tip to get your product out of your jars.  Fingers can contaminate your whole jar causing blemishes etc.  Squeeze tubes should be cleaned so that the product doesn’t collect around the lids.  If the product bottles are not sealed properly after you use them, their ingredients can suffer oxidation and dissipation (evaporate into the air).  Keeping your products clean, out of the sun and closed tight will ensure you are always getting the best of the ingredients.  Throw out expired products.  Expired ingredients don’t work to their maximum capacity and can cause adverse reactions.  You shouldn’t share products with friends, but if you insist, use Q-tips (a new clean side for each dip!) to not contaminate.

I know we all love to display our pretty jars on the counter.  Sadly, products should be stored where there is no sunlight and safe from the humidity of your shower.  The sun and changes in temperature can break down your products and leave them unstable to use, or render the ingredients useless.  Designate a cabinet in your home to store our products safely.

Fragrance

Just as sun and heat affect your cosmetics, same goes with fragrance.  I know the bottles are so pretty and are begging to be displayed, but please resist the urge.  The sun can even change how the perfume smells.  Keep them in a dry, dark place.

Color Cosmetics

This category is for all your makeup, (also known as “Color Cosmetics”).  Mascara should be replaced every three months.  Each time the brush goes in and out of the tube it pushes air and bacteria into the tube.  Germs in the lashes also contaminate your product.  Never, ever share mascara there just isn’t any sanitary way.  If you decide to share lipstick, which I also don’t recommend, use a cosmetic spatula to take some product from the bottom of the tube, a place that hasn’t been used. 

Don’t use your makeup when you are sick, you’ll just spread germs.  If you discover an eye infection, replace your mascara and sharpen your pencils.  (sharpening pencils eliminates a lot of surface germs, but not all.)  Some cosmeticians will spray alcohol or other sanitizers to lipsticks and pencils to prove they’re clean for you to use.  This is false.  An alcohol solution is meant for hard surfaces and must be left on for 20 minutes to sanitize. 

Your powders and foundations should last a long time, if you are using clean brushes and sponges and keep them out of the sun. Powders should be replaced every two years.

Makeup Sponges

Makeup sponges are very cheap to buy.  You can buy a bag of 20-30 for a dollar at the dollar store.  Drug stores will usually have them for a few dollars too.  I don’t believe in using sponges more than once.  I have adult acne and I try my very best to keep germs out of my skin.  If you feel you should reuse sponges, clean them with an antibacterial soap in between each use.  And make sure they are dried thoroughly before putting them back in your bag. 

Facial Sponges

These are the large yellow or white viscose sponges used to wash the face.  They are great because they can contour with the shape of your face, clean the eye area easily and they can be washed.  To clean facial sponges, put them in your whites cycle in the washing machine with bleach and dry them thoroughly afterward.  (You can even throw them in the dryer!). Always wash them after each use.  Eventually you’ll need to replace them when they start to fall apart, but they last quite a while.  You can find them at drug stores in packs of 2 – 4.

Hair Brushes

Once a month your hair bush should be scrubbed clean with a detergent.  Hair should be cleaned out of the brush after each use.  Don’t share your hairbrush!  We all have our own bacteria in our hair and its best not to share these germs.  Keeping your brush clean will also help those of you with dandruff, psoriasis, and other problems by stopping the spread of irritating bacteria and fungus.

I use an antibacterial soap and a small toothbrush (one designated solely for this task), and scrub in between all the bristles.  Then I soak the brush in hot soapy water for a few minutes and rinse it thoroughly.  Let it dry.

Razors

Disposable razors and blades should be thrown out every few shaves, or when you begin to feel resistance while shaving.  Rinse your razors thoroughly after each shave, this helps stop skin irritations and blemishes.  If you are using a razor with disposable heads, once a month use a clean toothbrush and scrub the razor to get all the soap scum off.  This keeps the head with the blade free to move and bend with your curves.  Electric razors should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s directions.  Do not share razors.  Communicable diseases from Hepatitis to HIV can be spread through razors. 

Shower Products

Bottles that sit in the shower need to be cleaned too.  The tops need to be closed properly so that oxygen can’t change them.  Water and steam promotes bacterial growth, and water gets trapped in the lids and pools around the bottom of the bottles and breeds bacteria.  You then touch these surfaces and spread it to your body.  Every week you should wipe down all the bottles and lids with a clean cloth and a little cream cleanser.  (Usually what you use on your tub as long as it is not abrasive).

I don’t want to promote obsessive compulsiveness, and I know some of this may sound like a bit much, but using your common sense when it comes to your personal grooming tools will keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Lipsticks, Pencils and Lip Balms

Lipsticks should be replaced annually.  Not only because of germs, but because these items can dry out making application difficult and the colors tend to change and fade. 

Nail Tools

These should be cleaned with soapy water after each use and dried thoroughly.  Do not share nail tools.  Spas have very special sterilization equipment such as autoclaves, that kills all bacteria.  They also have cleaning solutions not available to the public.  Keep your stuff clean and don’t share.

Makeup Bags

These can usually be wiped or washed out and lay flat to dry.  I like to use disinfecting wipes that are made for your counters to wipe out my bags.  They smell nice, dry fast and kill almost all bacteria.

Happy Grooming!