Today’s post from Chantel:
This should have been my first introductory article because hygiene is the 1st thing you need to know before you start using your make up but its not to late to educate you ladies on proper make up hygiene.
The number 1 thing you should know & train yourself on is washing your hands.Please do this before you dip your fingers into any creams or foundation.If not,you will contaminate the product.It sounds vile but its true.We carry so many bacteria on our fingers that cause skin allergies & skin ailments.How do I know if a product is expired?First it will have a smell to it,not a smelly smell but a kind of unusual.If you take a whiff of your foundation when its fresh,its a different smell when its gone off.If the colour of the product changed then yes its gone off too.Oil based lipsticks,concealers & foundations in a tub are the 1st to go off.Anything that has a wand like your mascara are also the first to go off.How do I avoid my make up to go off?Ladies if you are guilty of leaving your make up or cosmetic bag in the car,STOP THAT!If you are sharing your make up with your sisters or friends,STOP THAT!That’s the easiest way to spread germs & gather bacteria.Leaving products exposed to the sun or heat will help bacteria grow on your lipstick,lipgloss,mascara etc.If you have an eye infection stop using make up until your infection cleared up.Use foundations that are in a pump bottle & lipgloss that are in a squeezy tube for better hygiene.What is the shelf life of make up?Once a product is OPENED,bacteria will start to form!Nasty but so true! Some products have the OPEN JAR SYMBOL either on the back or bottom of the package or container.This symbol let’s you know exactly how long a product will stay fresh.Brushes VS SpongesI’m not a fan of sponges as it absorbs more foundation than brushes & sponges cannot be washed.If you invest in good quality brushes you don’t need to use a sponge again.If you are comfy with sponges toss them regularly & buy in bulk.If you love brushes like moi,wash your brushes in luke warm water using a mild shampoo.Do not let water touch the ferrule(the metal part of the brush)as the water will loosen it from the handle.Do this every 2 weeks but wash lipbrushes daily as the lipstick on it will grow bacteria faster.Expiration Chart:These “expiration dates”are taken from the products I have, researching different sites, and personal experience. If you don’t use it as often or are careful how you use your products they can last longer. Powders: 24MFoundation: 24M (usually 12-18M, especially if it’s oil based)Concealer: 24M (usually 12M if you touch it directly)Liquid Concealer: 6MLiquid Eyeliner: 6MPencil Eyeliner: 18M (usually longer, just sharpen regularly)Mascara: 6M (usually 3M) *Avoid pumping, instead swirl the wand insideLipgloss: 24M (usually 12M)Lipstick: 18M (usually 12M) Lip Liner: 12M (longer if you sharpen)Nail Polish: 12MSkincare (cream/gels): 12MThe ‘USUALLY’ means if you use it regularly or daily.So Ladies please sharpen those pencils,wash your brushes.Smell your foundation & mascaras & check for the open jar symbol & most important wash your hands.I hope this was useful info,so this weekend take the time to check your make up bag,toss whatever looks & smell funky! Yikes!
JustEllaBella
