Clean Up Your Beauty Routine
Bad Makeup Habits Can Seriously Damage Your Look
As a nation we spend millions of pounds on beauty products. From the ones which promise to hide a multitude of imperfections to the ones that claim to make us look ten years younger; we think nothing of cramming our bathroom cabinets and makeup bags full of them.
But, as we scour the shelves for yet another product to hide a blemish, could we be overlooking some of the most basic principals in cosmetic hygiene? Steps which could improve the condition and health of our skin and do away with the need for heavy foundation and concealer?
Here are some of the most common cosmetic crimes, their consequences and how to avoid being a repeat offender.
Check the Use-By-Date of ProductsNine out of ten women admit to using expired makeup products and it's easy to see why. Makeup can be expensive and if your products look and smell the same as when you bought them, what's the difference? Millions of bacteria, that's the difference.
Once your makeup product has expired, the preservatives which kept bacteria at bay become less effective allowing bacteria to multiply freely inside your bottles and tubes. This bacteria is then transferred to your face every time you apply makeup and can cause all sort of dermatological nightmares from rashes to pimples. This bacteria will also aggravate any existing skin conditions such as acne.
Keep a note in your diary of when your products are due to expire and replace them when their date is up. Afterall, what's the point in investing in an expensive face wash and moisturiser if you follow it up with a layer of bacteria?
Avoid Using In-Store TestersWould you offer your lip gloss to the lady next to you in the bathroom with a sore on her lip? Thought not. Testers in stores might seem like a great way to see what your makeup products will look like before investing in them but bear in mind that you don't know who's been using them before you. Testers are like a giant public makeup bag and can be full of viruses like herpes and pink-eye which are passed on through skin contact.
If you have to use testers, scrape the top layer off lipsticks, use disposable applicators and freshly sharpen any pencils you want to try out.
Keep Your Products Clean
This might seem like common sense but for starters most people store their products in the most un-hygienic room in the house, the bathroom. The bathroom is full of airborne microbes just waiting to delve into your favourite foundation or mascara. If you must keep your makeup in the bathroom, make sure you keep everything covered and the lids on tightly.
Bacteria is also more likely to breed in warm moist conditions so keep your products cool and away from direct sunlight and don't even think about keeping any in your car. Also make sure you wash your hands before handling your products so you don't cross-contaminate them.
For a thorough clean, take your makeup with you next time you get a Mani Pedi and ask if your manicurist could sterilise it with her tools. Most manicurists use a UV light box to keep their tools clean and it works just as well for makeup products.
Keep Your Tools Clean
We're all guilty of applying our makeup in the morning and throwing the brushes or sponges on the counter or jamming them into a jar by the sink. But, our brushes and sponges are the tools which come into contact most with our faces and should be kept clean and dry at all times.
Wash your tools using dishwashing liquid at least twice a week and leave them to dry naturally.
Cleaning up your makeup routine could seriously improve the condition, tone and health of your skin and remember that bacteria loves your foundation just as much as you do, so watch out for those expiry dates!
Makeup Can Be a Breeding Ground For Bacteria
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