8 steps to detox your makeup bag
If your makeup bag is starting to bulge at the seams and you only ever use half of what’s in there, it’s time for a major clean out.
Going all Marie Kondo on your makeup kit can be immensely satisfying – not only will it be tidier, but more hygienic too.
Follow these top tips to give your makeup bag a much-needed detox.
Get back to basics
Pare down products and stick to the essentials, which should form the core of your makeup kit:
- A perfecting base.
- A highlighter that suits your skin tone.
- A peachy creamy blush that can be used on eyes, cheeks and lips.
- An eyelash curler.
- A volumising mascara.
- A balm for lips to keep them soft and glossy.
Throw out anything past its use-by date
Any make-up product that has altered colour, dried out, expired or cracked should go straight to the bin.
Foundations, concealers, and cream eyeshadows and blushers last up to 12 months after opening.
When liquid foundations start to separate or cream-to-powder formulations dry out, it’s time to get rid of them.
Mascara lasts three months at the most; after that it’s a breeding ground for nasty bacteria that you don’t want near your eyes.
Lipsticks and lip glosses usually have a life span of two years, but bin them if you get a cold sore.
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Test foundations and concealers
Keep the ones that match your current skin tone – don’t save foundations you think you will wear in another season.
When that time comes, invest in a seasonal foundation and concealer.
If your foundation contains active ingredients like vitamin A, C or E, store it in a cool, dark place.
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De-gunk and de-grease
This applies to bottles, tubes and make-up brushes, to keep them hygienic.
Clean around any messy product lids with antibacterial wipes and wash makeup brushes once a month in warm water and a little shampoo.
Don’t immerse the whole brush in water, just the bristles.
Rinse in plain water, then dry flat over the edge of a basin so air can circulate.
Throw away frosted or bright eyeshadows
Keep the staples – dark greys and neutral shades, such as beiges, mochas, light pinks and greys.
Keep dark eyeliners and eye pencils
All eye colours look good with black, charcoal and brown eyeliners and eye pencils.
Just give them a sharpen to freshen them up.
Keep only a handful of lipsticks
Hang on to neutral, everyday shades and either a deeper or a brighter one for evening.
Be ruthless
Give away all products you have never used, opened or don’t know how to use.
If you haven’t used them by now, chances are you won’t and they’ll end up going out of date.
While you’re at it, why not consider cleaning up other areas of your life?
Written by Nikki Yazxhi.
