Cleaning Out Your Makeup Bag for Good

By: Stephanie Gonzalez

In this crazy world of beauty and fashion, there are certainly things that truly last forever – like the great LBD, or a killer red lipstick.Those are a given, and they will never expire; but unlike those fashion staples, not everything will last forever in a makeup bag. And I find this upsetting, because some things I just never want to let go. But for the sake of hygiene, it is a step all of us ladies should be taking. While a good mascara may only last you about three to four months, a loose powder can last up to a year. And this goes for beauty creams as well! So, let’s dig a little deeper in that bag and decide what we should be keeping; and more importantly, tossing!

Let’s start with the easiest make-up tool: mascara. I tossed out a mascara yesterday when I started to feel that it was irritating my eye. Remember, most mascara doesn’t last longer then four months. If it looks the slightest bit dry or seems to irritate, don’t think twice –  toss it! A good tip to make your mascara last longer is to stop “pumping” the wand! I know we all have that urge to, but it gets air into the mascara and that is a big no!

Lipsticks are probably the hardest products to let go of in our makeup bags (especially if they have discontinued your favorite color! The horror!) Luckily, lipsticks can last up to a year. If you start to notice that the color is not the same as it use to be, or the texture isn’t the same, it could be the sign you need to invest in some new ones. And here is another tip that I have come to realize: those “long lasting lipsticks” tend to dry our a bit faster than regular lip colors.

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Face creams and foundations have a shelf life of roughly three to six months. And these products should be kept in a cool, dry place. They should be kept out of the bathroom and the steam from the shower. The inside of your car in the summer is a bad place for them as well. The shelf life can vary with the formulas that they are made from. Cream based foundations can last up to six months, and foundations with SPF tend to go bad quicker. Since most ladies wear foundation everyday, we tend to use it up way before the expiration date; but, if the smell or color begins to change, it’s time for a new one.

One big beauty mistake that we all make – something we should be doing regularly, and that is cleaning our brushes and applicators! These tools can hold a lot of bacteria and they must be looked after. After a while, it is good to replace them with new ones; but washing them does help keep them around longer. With simple precautions, your makeup bag will be ready to go each and everyday! 

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