Toss 'em out..

This post is a shout out to all the make up junkies just like me who would love to own all the make up in the world and never ever throw any of it out. I know you love every little product in your vanity but it is absolutely essential to de clutter and get rid of things that are just not fit for use and have been sitting in your drawer way past their shelf lives. For optimum use of all your cosmetics and brushes, be sure to maintain very hygienic conditions for the products, tools and the environment you store them in. 



Your MAKE UP BRUSHES are probably the only thing in your vanity that are likely to last you forever. If you treat your brushes well in terms of storage and cleanliness, they are always going to be with you. An important tip for cleaning brushes is to make sure that no liquid goes into the part where the bristles are glued. Heat or liquid can loosen up the glue and cause the bristles to fall out. Find ways to store them upright and in a way such that they don't scratch each other.
Make up sponges, however should be cleaned after every use and must be discarded after a few uses.

      

I see tons of people holding onto bottles of FOUNDATION  which are some 5 years old and are shaken before use only to not realize how disintegrated they actually are. A good water based foundation with a pump has a shelf life of no more than 12 months. The ones with an oil base could still go up to 18 months or so. The life of a CONCEALER is also about 12 months.

Just be sure to always use a properly sanitized brush or sponge and never contaminate your face powders/bronzers. This way you can squeeze out a couple of years from your POWDERS. As long as your powder does not smell funny or looks like it changed colors and is of an even consistency, it is good to use. 







Most Lipsticks, lip glosses and lip liners can last up to 2 years. It's always best to store silky textured lipsticks with a weak bullet in the refrigerator and far away from a lot of heat, moisture and direct sunlight. 

MASCARA is known to have the shortest shelf life of them all. 90 days is what experts say. I find myself squeezing out about 5 months of use from each tube. Its all good as long as it does not smell fishy. NEVER share your mascara with anyone else. If you use any eye make up with an infection, discard as soon as the infection is over. To know more on how to get the most out of your mascara and tips and tricks for application, CLICK HERE !

EYE SHADOWS & EYE LINERS will easily last up to 4-5 years. I actually want to say that your eye shadow palette could last you a lifetime if maintained and stored properly. Always sharpen very old eye liners before use to get rid of any dirty or infectious deposits on the tip. 







A few other tips:

Refrigerating your perfumes helps them last much longer as the scent does not disintegrate or change colour at lower temperatures. Nail Polishes are pretty sturdy and and can be made to last for as long as 2 years as long as the acetone in them does not evaporate. Always store packets of Facial Wipes (Make up remover wipes) upside down in order to prevent the moisture on the wipes from drying out. Creams and cleansers are good to go for about a year or so. 

The golden rule to understanding if it has gone bad or not, is to check consistency, colour and smell. Needless to say, if it's really old and irritates your skin, it most definitely belongs in the garbage.
Take good care of everything you use on your skin and I promise it'll pay you back..

Thank you for reading. Have a beautiful day. :)