Keeping your makeup kit sanitary is very important, especially if you are a makeup artist. If your makeup is contaminated with bacteria, it could cause infections, acne and other skin problems. Keeping your products and tools clean is very easy and quick. Here’s a few basic tips:
1. Wash your hands: always clean your hands before applying makeup. You can use an anti-bacterial soap so that you can clean your hands everywhere without the need of water and soap.
2. Use a disposable wand: don’t use the wand that comes with mascaras or lipglosses. Use disposable wands instead and never double dip!
3. Use a tissue: to sanitise powder products, simply wipe the surface off with a tissue before and after use.
4. Use a spatula: putting your brush or finger in a makeup jar can contaminate the product. Instead, scoop a bit of product up with a spatula and place it onto a clean palette.
5. Sanitize makeup and tools with Isopropyl Alcohol: just dip lipstick, liners, pencils etc in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (higher concentrations can be too harsh). This alcohol can also be used to clean brushes and other beauty tools such as pencil sharpeners and palettes as well.
6. Clean brushes: use a brush cleaner (or, like mentioned above, Isopropyl Alcohol) to spot clean your brushes. Wash them with water and soap at least once a week to deep clean them.
7. Throw away old cosmetics: toss products when you notice their color, smell or consistency has changed and don’t use makeup that’s past its expiration date.
What do you do to keep your makeup sanitary?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
For people who use mineral foundation, I suggest to use a swirl bowl instead of swirling the foundation in the cap to avoid contamination. Great tips, Gio!
Thanks for the tips!!!
Mineral foundation typically does not need to be sanitized since it is a powder and bacteria cannot grow in it.
Blade runner!
Ok…I put them everywhere and let my friend take whatever she wants (beside my stila shadow and mirrors of course) so I never need to worry about stuff getting expired since they are gone before I know it…
Dao: that’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing.
Cinthia: you’re welcome
Danielle: that is one of the things I love the most about mineral makeup. It’s not impossible for bacteria to grow in powder, but it’s harder as the powder should be at least a bit moist for that to happen.
Citrine: your friend is lucky, you have a great stash! I can never seem to finish most of my makeup products.
I sanitize my makeup containers with cleaning wipes. Overtime, it builds product buildup outside the containers and it can get a bit messy.
fabulessbeauty: I hate when that happens! You’r right, cleaning the containers is very important too.
Definitely not impossible, but I like to think most of us don’t keep our makeup in warm incubators!
I hope not, too Danielle! However, if use eyeshadow or pigments wet and you’re not careful, some bacteria may grow. But if you let them dry completely before storing them away, it should be fine.