Maintain a makeup mantra

Beauty tips

Cosmetics and makeup products have become an integral part of the lives of almost all women. A red lipstick or kohl-lined eyes are a sure-fire way of feeling cheered up for a long day at office — plus, you look like a million bucks. And when we attach so much importance to looking good, why not take a second look at the instruments you use for this?

Makeup tools and products usually escape our attention when it comes to a regular cleaning up. While medicines and food products are duly checked for expiry dates or other signs of trouble (hopefully you do this!), cosmetics are made to last for as long as possible.

“These things are expensive so people keep using them for as long as possible,” says Priyanshi Shah, a professional. “But considering that they come in direct contact with our face, this can cause a lot of problems. Brushes, for example.
Technically, these should be cleaned almost monthly otherwise they become dirty and full of bacteria from constantly touching our skin. Also, if you invest in a great set, you have to wash them properly or they will quickly deteriorate,” she adds.

“I learned how to clean my cosmetics by watching YouTube tutorials,” says Ruchita Bharbhari, a professional and a makeup enthusiast. “It is an easy and effective way. I have learnt quite a few tricks and tips like putting your lipstick in the freezer overnight can kill germs and bacteria or you can get rid of the muck off your eyelash curler with a lighter. Also, even the bags and cases that we store our makeup in can get very dirty quickly. You should remove all products from your bag or case and give it a good cleaning with antibacterial wipes.”

It is not just the fear of a breakout that should prompt one to incorporate a regular cleaning in their beauty regimen. Eye infections, skin damage, Herpes and even cancer are some of the fallouts of having grimy beauty products. And sometimes these can be caused even by no fault of yours. “Sharing cosmetics with friends increases the chances of an infection or contamination as sharing makeup is essentially swapping germs. Ideally, one should desist from doing so,” explains Priyanshi.

Almost as important as cleaning is weeding out your kit from time to time. One’s vision, olfactory sense and common sense should be used to determine which products are safe to use and which have outlived their utility.

Says Neha Singh, “If it smells funny or looks strange, it should be tossed out. Preferably one should change their foundation makeup every six months since your skin will normally change shades during that time. If you are using a product that contains anti-aging properties, remember that they will turn bad quicker. Overall, if there is ever a doubt about whether to keep it or toss it, you should always just throw it out to be on the safer side.”