Sorry, but it ’s time to finally throw away your three-year-old dried out mascara
Over a recent lunch date with my work bestie, she voluntarily admitted she’d been using her ‘trustiest’ foundation brush for six years straight and, um, that it had never once been washed. Yes, I did gag on my sandwich. This blasé admission sparked my fight or flight response and, being the noble beauty journalist that I am, only one solution was going to be satisfactory – to write up a comprehensive guide on how and why you should clean your beauty stash, tools ’n’ all. I mean, what better time to get stuck into it than now? ’Tis the season of new beginnings and spring cleaning, after all.
Bin ageing beauty buys
Just like food, our make-up, haircare and skincare products are all perishable. However, cosmetic products in the UK and EU markets don’t have ~official~ expiry dates. Instead, there are guidelines to help you understand how long your beauty products are good to use for, sort of like a ‘best before’ date. To know when it’s time to bin your ageing beauty buys, products display a ‘Period After Opening’ symbol on the back of their packaging.
Why is it so important to stick to the guidelines? Well, dermatologist, Radmila Lukian says that using old or expired make-up can have several negative side effects on your skin. ‘The preservatives present in make-up products have a shelf life and after a certain period, these can break down, allowing bacteria to grow. This bacteria can lead to skin irritation, breakouts, rashes and even infections.’
Have a toolkit cleanse
In my bestie’s case, and I’m sure in most of ours, keeping on top of our tools is another issue altogether. Yes, regularly washing our everyday make-up brushes and sponges can seem like a chore, but before you know it, six long years go by.
Dr Lukian tells Cosmopolitan, ‘As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended to wash your make-up brushes at least once a week.’ This can vary depending on how often you use each tool, but regularly cleaning them can help prevent breakouts, as well as helping to ‘maintain the quality and effectiveness of your brushes for longer’, she adds. If they’re not cleaned on the regular, make-up brushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria, oil and dirt. Let’s put it like this: you wouldn’t apply your skincare without washing your hands first, so try to think of your brushes in the same way.
Heads up, this also goes for other tools, too – because beauty doesn’t stop at our necks. ‘For shower loofahs and body brushes, it’s recommended you wash them at least once a week,’ says Dr Lukian. You can wash them with fresh, warm water and your usual body cleanser. When it comes to
