By Beauty Editor Katrina Hess
Your favorite makeup can be like favorite old shoes – it’s hard to throw away.
The beginning of the year is a good time to clean out our makeup bags and old products, and start with fresh makeup. This is especially important for liquid products.
Unlike with many other products we use every day, the FDA does not regulate cosmetics or require expiration labels.
Makeup doesn’t last or look fresh forever. As makeup ages it becomes dry, dull, and loses its long-wearing abilities. Powders will crumble and fall apart. Many eyeliners and mascaras have adhesives that dry out. Lipsticks and glosses can dry out and develop an unpleasant odor.
The first thing is to consider how long you’ve had the cosmetic. A good rule of thumb is to throw away any makeup you’ve had for over one year, with some makeups needing to be replaced every few months.
With mascara and liquid eyeliners, you want to replace them every three months, especially if you’re using them every day. Like other liquid makeups like foundation, blush and lip glosses, mascara and liquid eyeliners can harbor bacteria, develop a bad odor, and cause skin infections, cold sores, and eye infections.
Powder products like blush, foundation, and eyeshadow also can develop a crusted coating due to bacteria from dirty brushes. These products should be replaced within a year, and sooner if you notice these changes occurring.
Organic, or natural makeup generally does not last as long as conventional makeup because it uses fewer preservatives. Natural makeup relies on plant-based preservatives which may not be as effective as synthetic preservatives. They may oxidize faster, which causes a quicker degradation in quality and consistency.
Clean Brushes for a Clean Makeup Application!
It’s important to keep all your makeup brushes clean to remove any bacteria that might be forming, and to give us a smooth application.
I recommend washing them in warm water with a liquid dish detergent weekly. I like Mrs. Meyer’s Dish Detergent, which is gentler than other detergents and has several pleasant scents. A drop is all you need.
Washing our makeup bags is just as important as washing our brushes. Many cloth bags can be tossed in the washing machine. I like to dry mine by just laying them on the dryer as it’s running. I use Mrs. Meyer’s to hand-wash my hard makeup cases.
I also like to use silicone makeup sponges. I wash them thoroughly after each use, and before a new makeup application I just immerse the sponge in cool water, squeeze it a few times to absorb the water, and then squeeze it out, which makes applying foundation easy and streak-free.
Let’s start the new year with fresh and clean makeup and tools!
Katrina Hess is a licensed Cosmetologist, which is rare among makeup artists. She’s a local beauty legend whose experience and expertise spans the globe. Katrina has been featured in top beauty and fashion magazines, newspapers, magazines, and TV programs. Katrina’s won Boston Magazine’s “Best of Boston Makeup Artist” 5 times, and Allure Magazine’s “Best of Best Brow Shaping” twice. At her Newbury Street salon Katrina offers unique products that are organic to high-end. Katrina volunteered for 15+ years for the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good…Feel Better” program. See how Katrina can help you maintain healthy skin and learn easy beauty routines, and much more, at www.katrinahess.com