Bacteria and dirt can easily sneak their way into your precious perfectly curated makeup products every single day. While the packaging tells you when you need to throw your products out, you must know how to clean your makeup and the tools you use to apply them.
Additionally, this might sound really harsh, but refrain from sharing your makeup and brushes, as bacteria and dirt from other individuals may contaminate you, as well.
Face Powder, Bronzer, Blush, Contour, and Eyeshadow
Use a butter knife to scrape off the topmost portion of the product. You can use this technique for cleaning your compact face powder, especially when you see shiny spots on it. These spots are due to the oil and dirt buildup from your skin. However, you need to be very careful not to break the powder into pieces.
Liquid Foundation
If your foundation is a liquid formulation and is contained in a bottle without a pump, pour out some of it (the topmost portion). When using a liquid foundation, it is also best that you put some of it on a small plate or an accessory specially made for this, and then apply with your fingers, a sponge, or brush, instead of dipping your fingers inside the bottle.
Brushes
Ideally, you should get in the habit of giving all your makeup brushes — whether your precision makeup brush or fluffy face brush — a deep clean at least every two weeks. Use warm water and gentle soap or a brush cleaner for this.
In between deep cleans, you can keep your brushes as clean as possible by spraying them with a solution made of nine parts alcohol or vodka and one part water after each use. This will help remove makeup buildup from your brushes and keep them spic and span. If you use sponges or blenders, always wash them after using, especially if you use them for applying liquid or cream makeup.
Pencils
The easiest way to ensure the cleanliness of your pencils is to always sharpen them a bit before using them. For retractable pencils, you can pour vodka or alcohol in a bottle cap and dip the pencil’s tip into it for at least 30 seconds. Wipe gently with a cloth or tissue, or air dry.
Lipsticks
Use a cotton swab for gently scraping off the topmost part of your lipstick. You do not need to scrape a huge chunk off, just the tip that has been in contact with your lips, brush, and perhaps fingers during application.
Next, pour alcohol or vodka into a tiny container and immerse the lipstick into it for 30 seconds to a minute. Dry it off using a cloth or tissue. Doing this will help ensure that your lipstick is at its optimum condition since anything stuck to it will likewise be removed. Do this once monthly.
Lastly, keep in mind that you should ideally replace your makeup as indicated in the packaging, particularly your mascara, which you should throw away after three months. These simple habits will go a long way towards keeping germs at bay.
