With COVID-19 at the forefront of everyone’s mind lately, thoughts of cleaning and sanitation are too.
If you have some free time during social-distancing, maybe it’s time to consider doing some makeup sanitation to help prevent germs and bacteria in your bathroom or vanity.
While your personal makeup collection probably won’t give you COVID-19, it can still give you some unwanted infections like pink eye or skin irritation like rashes.
Here are some tips and tricks professional makeup artists use to keep their makeup sanitized
that you can use too.
Always wash your hands
Hopefully, we’ve all been washing our hands extra to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Washing your hands before and after touching your face is a great way to stop the spread of viruses and bacteria.
You should always wash your hands before doing your skincare regimen and your makeup!
Not only will this help prevent you from getting sick, but it can also help curb unwanted blemishes.
Make sure you’re practicing proper handwashing by using the technique approved by the Cleveland Clinic
.
This handwashing technique includes using antibacterial soap, the hottest water you can tolerate, and washing for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you get frequently missed areas like your knuckles, wrists, and thumbs.
If your vanity is outside the bathroom, and you forget to wash your hands before applying makeup, it is helpful to keep a hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol on your vanity to use before you get started.
It’s okay if your sanitizer has sparkles and smells like a snow cone, as long as it’s 60% alcohol. You’re good to go no matter how fancy the bottle looks.
Keep your area clean too
You may keep your vanity clean from any accidental foundation spills and crushed purple eyeshadows, but are you disinfecting your workspace too?
Makeup sanitation is more than just the cleaning of the actual makeup.
It’s important to regularly disinfect frequently touched areas on your vanity, such as the top work surface and drawer pulls.
Make sure you’re using a proper cleaning solution that is suited to the material of your vanity. You can clean thoroughly while still caring for the furniture in your corner of serenity.
We love pumps
When we say pumps, we don’t mean shoes.
What we mean is that we love skincare and makeup products with pumps. If your favorite jar of moisturizer comes in a pot, invest in a little product spatula to scoop out your beauty and go with it.
Think of the plastic applicators Sephora and Ulta works use to give you samples. Stock up on this valuable tool to keep your product and your face germ-free.
If you’re in a pinch, washing your hands before will be alright too.
Toss the old stuff
Preventing unwanted infections in your personal makeup collection has more today with regular and proper cleaning products.
It’s really important that you aren’t using any expired makeup.
Here are some general rules of thumb for when makeup expires.
Cream products like blush and concealer: one year
Liquid liner: three months
Pencils for lips and eyes: one to two years
Powders like blush and eyeshadow: two years
Nail polish: style=”font-weight: 400;”> two years
Mascara: three to six months
Foundation: six to twelve months
Lipstick and gloss: eighteen months
Some products have symbols underneath that indicate how long of a shelf life they usually have before they should be thrown out.
Also, be sure to pay attention to any warning signs that you may have an expired product.
Changes in product performance, changes in color, mold growth, and the development of an unpleasant smell may all be indicators that your makeup product is expired.
Makeup sanitation can’t save these products, and they should be thrown out.
Make sure you store your makeup in a safe place that doesn’t get too damp or warm. Please don’t keep your liquid lipsticks in a hot car– that’s one sure way to shorten the lifespan of your favorite tubes.
Protect yourself from using expired products–it’s what’s best for your health.
Stop sharing your stuff
We normally assume that sharing is caring. Not so when it comes to your makeup.
Sharing makeup with your friends or family members isn’t the best idea. While makeup containers are sealed, they are usually cool and damp, which can become a breeding ground for germs.
Makeup applicators can transfer germs from one person to another.
Unless you’re sanitizing before and after sharing your cosmetics, you’re not doing anyone any favors.
Sharing your makeup is one way you could potentially contract COVID-19. Not to mention a cold sore or eye infection.
If you do end up sharing your beauty stuff, here are some tips and tricks to sanitize your products.
Makeup sanitation
To sanitize your makeup, it’s best to use 70% isopropyl alcohol in a small spray bottle.
For blush or eyeshadow palettes spray directly onto the palette. Rubbing alcohol dries almost instantly, so as long as you don’t over-saturate the products with the liquid, you won’t ruin the product.
Lip Liner and eyeliner can also be sprayed with alcohol.
For liquid foundation, saturate a cotton round with alcohol and give the cap and nozzle a good cleaning.
You can also sanitize sharpeners by soaking them in a glass of the isopropyl alcohol.
Not only should you be regularly washing your brushes and sponges, but you should also be using disinfecting wipes on the handles of your brushes. Using wipes is easy and effective.
Additionally, don’t ever blow on your brushes to remove excess product.
Blowing on your brushes can put bacteria from your mouth, onto your brushes.
Yuck.
Instead, simply tap off the extra product to avoid putting on too much blush or shadow, or whatever you’re using.
Take care of yourself
At Team True Beauty, we hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during the spread of COVID-19.
Take the time during your stay at home orders to go through your makeup, and sanitize or toss anything that is expired.
We can’t wait to see what creative looks you come up with in quarantine after all of your makeup sanitation!
