Spring Cleaning Part 1: Makeup Bag

Spring cleaning shouldn’t stop at your closet. Your beauty products need a seasonal sorting too. In Part 1 of Beautylish’s Spring Cleaning Series, we’re tackling the makeup bag. According to New York City dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, if you don’t know how long to keep your makeup, six months is a safe bet. Any longer, and you risk causing infection. “In addition, once a product expires, toxic breakdown of compounds such as sodium hydroxide can appear, which may burn or irritate,” says Dr. Alexiades.  Yikes! For tips on what to toss, we also consulted celebrity makeup artist Fiona Stiles. “Nothing feels as good as cleaning out clutter, and if you’re anything like me, you end up collecting a lot of makeup you never wear. But unlike that cute skirt that you can’t part with, makeup has an expiration date, and you should make sure not to hang onto things beyond their past due date,” says Fiona. Keep reading to see what you should keep and what it’s time to throw away.

When it comes to products, a good rule of thumb is that any makeup that you touch with your fingers should be tossed sooner than something you apply with a brush. “On every makeup item there is a little icon of a jar with a number next to it. This is the number of recommended months you should keep the product,” says Fiona. Here are her tips for 

overhauling your makeup bag:

+

=

Foundation:

“If it’s in a pot and you use your fingers to scoop out the product, you’ll need to get rid of it sooner than a foundation that’s in a bottle or one with a smaller opening. The bacteria from your fingers can contaminate your jar of foundation.”

Powder Makeup (Blush/Eyeshadow/Powder):

“Pressed powder products have a much longer shelf life than cream or liquid products. Use your discretion—if you’ve had that blush since the ’90′s, obviously chuck it.  But if you’ve had it a year or two, and it still seems ok, you can hang onto it a bit longer.”

Mascara/Liquid Liner:

“I think mascara should be replaced every 3-4 months. With mascara you can at least see when it’s time or a new tube because the consistency of the mascara changes so dramatically when it gets old. The same goes for liquid and felt tip liners.”

Gloss:

“Gloss can go rancid, and you can usually tell.  It’ll smell funny or taste funny, and as soon as it does, throw it in the trash.  Nothing going on your lips—and therefore in your mouth—should taste weird.”

Pencils:

“The great thing about pencils is that every time you sharpen them, it’s almost like getting a new pencil.  That said, if you’ve had it since you were a teenager, throw it out and treat yourself to a new one!”

Brushes:

“Are the bristles on your brushes broken and frayed? Have you smashed them beyond recognition? Go out and get yourself some new brushes.  When treated right, brushes can last for years and years, but they can only take so much abuse and neglect—make sure you wash them regularly!—so be sure to take a good long look at your set and see if you need new ones.”