New Year, New You! Start a fresh year with a clean makeup bag!
Taking certain simple precautions when using makeup will both keep your makeup sanitary and make sure that you achieve the expected results.
This week we wanted to take you through some of the best hygiene tips from the Makeup industry that you can also follow at home. Plus we are re-visiting the most important lesson in makeup which is to replace your products regularly (especially those for the eyes).
Hygiene
Brushes and tools
In a salon, brushes and tools should be cleaned with a spray cleaner between each client to prevent cross contamination. At home, where you are the only user of the brush this can be reduced down to once a day.
In a salon the brushes should ideally then be deep cleaned with either washing up liquid or anti-bacterial wash at the end of each day, but at home this can be ideally weekly and certainly fortnightly.
When deep cleaning our brushes don’t immerse the whole brush in water as that can loosen the bristle, simply wet the bristles with warm water, massage through your chosen cleaning agent, rinse under warm water and leave to dry.
In a professional environment to improve hygiene, Makeup artists might use a metal spatula to scoop or scrape products from original containers and place them on a palette to work on instead of dipping directly into creams, liquids, or gel formula products. Although this is not always practical at home, a simple rule of thumb is that the less you can have direct contact between the product and your fingers the more hygienic it is!
MASCARA
When working on a client, disposable wands are usually used for mascara application. Never double dip the wand if the mascara is being going to be used on more than one person! Mascara is one of the highest risk products. If you don’t like disposables but you are using mascara on multiple people you could also keep the brushes from old mascaras and clean and sanitise them for use.
POWDERS
For powder products, you might want to remove the top layer with a tissue or invest in a cosmetic sanitizer mist. Spray at the end of each day and let the alcohol evaporate from the product to be most effective.
PENCILS
Make up pencils like i-fix are easily cleaned by sharpening! But don’t forget to clean your sharpener too -our sharpener even comes with a tool to help clean the blade.
LIPSTICK
In a salon the bullet of a lipstick should be regularly sanitised with a spray or a wipe.
Now the controversial bit…
Why chuck your make up?
On the side or back of your makeup boxes you will see a little pot and lid symbol
This symbol shows how long a product can be open for before both the consistency of the product will change (and you WONT be getting the expected result) AND most importantly when the chemicals such as anti-bacterials inside the product that help protect you from infection, start to break down.
A top tip is to note the expiration date on a label on the bottom…. It is amazing how time flies and how quickly 6 months or a year pass!
Another simple rule is that if the consistency of a product changes or it starts to smell funny then it needs to go – even if this is within the guidelines above!
It really IS important to replace your makeup regularly especially products developed for the eyes which are most prone to infection. If you develop an eye infection like conjunctivitis or pink eye, you should immediately chuck out any makeup that has come in contact with your eyes and just start fresh with new products.
Eyes
The general rule is to change your eyeliner every four to six months. Although i-flutter mascara can last up to a year open, again industry guidelines suggest changing your mascara every 6 months – especially if it is used regularly.
i- shadow and i- colour
These have some of the longest shelf lives in your beauty cabinet. If applied using a brush then they should last 1 year and 2 years respectively. But, if like me you are applying your i-colour with a finger instead of a brush, then the 6 month rule also applies!
Base
If a foundation such as i-perfection or a tinted moisturiser (i-tint) is supplied in a pump, then it will last longer (up to a year). If however you are dabbing your fingers into the top of a bottle each time you apply it you should be tossing it out every six months.
Lips
Lipsticks, liner and gloss are good for a year, but be aware of the smell of the product and possible exposure. If it doesn’t smell right –replace it! Plus, if you are prone to cold sores or other infections you will also need to regularly replace those products that have been exposed to the breakout.
