The Ultimate Beauty Sanitizing Guide

Everyone knows it’s important to keep beauty tools and products clean, but most people don’t know the guidelines around doing this. How can you be sure what you’re doing is enough? From when to throw away old makeup to proper cleaning techniques for brushes, our ultimate guide covers everything you need to know!

Knowing What to Throw Out

The first step to having hygienic beauty products is being aware when something is past its expiration date. With all this extra time you’re spending at home, now is the perfect opportunity to do that beauty spring cleaning you’ve been putting off. Since there are multiple types of makeup, there are some that will need to be thrown out faster. Here’s a general guide on how long you should wait before tossing your old makeup in the trash.

Liquid, Powder, Or Pencil?

Ask yourself this question first when deciding if your makeup has overstayed its welcome. Liquid and cream cosmetics are going to have a shorter shelf life because of their water and oil content. Any liquid or cream makeup should be thrown out after about six to twelve months.

On the other side, powder and pencil products are going to last a lot longer since the dryness helps keep bacteria away. However, that doesn’t mean you can keep them forever. It’s recommended that makeup supplies like this are replaced every two years. Don’t forget to sharpen lip and eye pencils so you’re not constantly using the same point.

Natural Ingredients

Similarly to food, anything that’s natural is going to expire more quickly. A break from chemical preservatives is great for sensitive skin but you’ll have to adjust your cleaning. If you’re someone who prefers natural or clean beauty products, use more caution for how long you keep them. When your skin starts to feel dry and irritated, that’s a good indicator that it’s time to part ways.

Use Good Judgement

If you’re not sure how long it’s been since you picked up your favorite foundation, you can always use your eyes to make a judgement call. Old makeup will sometimes have signs like an odd odor, discoloration, or an abnormal texture. Another way to tell that a product has gone bad is if your skin is constantly irritated on a specific point of your face. Use your best judgment to make sure you’re not creating any unnecessary skin problems.

How to Sanitize What’s Left

Now that you’ve thrown out all your old makeup, you’re ready to take care of what’s left! With so many different supplies, it can seem overwhelming to make sure you’re doing the proper technique for each one. It’s easier than you think! Let’s get started!

Makeup Brushes

Chances are that you normally use a makeup brush every day so it’s important that these are properly cleaned before touching your face. You should especially sanitize brushes that are used in close contact with your eyes. Continuing to use dirty brushes can lead to clogged pores, ance, and other irritations. Washing your brushes can be done in a few simple steps. Rinse your brushes in lukewarm water, massage in a drop of soap or gentle shampoo, and scrub with your hands. After they’ve been cleaned, let them dry over the counter so they keep their original shape.

Metal Tools

Tweezers and eyelash curlers are a few examples of beauty tools you’ve probably never thought to give a good scrub. They definitely need it! Have you ever thought about how close your eyelash curler gets to your eyes? You don’t want it constantly near that area if it hasn’t been sanitized recently. Like your makeup brushes, these tools are very easy to clean. All you have to do is scrub some antibacterial soap on them with water and you’re good to go!

Clean the Makeup Itself

Sanitizing your beauty tools is important but don’t forget to also include what you’re applying to your face: the makeup itself. As we’ve already mentioned there are many types of makeup, which means that sanitizing some will be more time consuming than others. Here are some general cleaning tips for makeup you probably use daily:

• Sharpen your pencil tools regularly.
• Scrape off the top layer of your eyeshadow and lipstick periodically.
• Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and scrub your foundation bottle’s nozzle and cap.
• Don’t bother cleaning disposable makeup sponges and wipes. Throw them away after one use.

Don’t Forget the Bag

Don’t let all your hard work be for nothing by putting your clean makeup into a dirty bag. While your makeup is still out, you’ll want to also sanitize any bags or cases you have to remove old makeup residue. It’s an important step that you may not think about!

At least once or twice or month, take an antibacterial wipe and wipe your bag all around before storing your makeup again.

Stay Safe and Healthy

We know that these are unprecedented times but we want you to know that our team at American beauty Institute is here for you. If you want to talk with us about your future in beauty, we’d be happy to chat with you about the opportunity to start your education online. We hope you’re all staying home and staying safe!