By Jillian Cener

When should you replace your makeup?  It’s an important question to ask, though it probably doesn’t cross your mind as often as it should.  Makeup does eventually start to expire and build up bacteria, which could be harmful to you.  Since you’re putting makeup around your eyes or mouth, you really want to make sure your makeup is as fresh as it can be.  Here’s a simple guide to help you figure out how often you should replace your makeup:

-Concealer: 6 months
-Foundation: 6 months
-Blush: 6 months
-Eyeshadow: 1 year
-Mascara: 3 months
-Eyeliner: 3 months
-Lipstick/Lip gloss: 1 year

A general rule of thumb is to throw out any makeup that starts to lose its color, becomes grainy, or smells.  It’s helpful to write down the date that you purchased your makeup so you know when to replace it.

Another way to help keep your makeup fresh is to clean your makeup brushes.  Your brushes can hold lots of bacteria and dirt on them, so it’s important to keep them clean.  This will not only keep bacteria from building up, but it will help your brushes last longer, too.  I personally use a spray cleaner on my brushes every day and try to shampoo them once a week.  To use the spray cleaner, simply spray your brushes with it, wipe them gently on a tissue, and lay them flat to dry.  To shampoo, run the brushes under warm water and massage a small amount of shampoo in the bristles.  Gently squeeze excess water out, reshape the bristles, and lay flat to dry.  Never leave a wet brush standing up, as the water can drip down and mess up the glue that holds the brush together.  I’ve included the brush cleaners I use below:

Spray cleaner: e.l.f. Studio Daily Brush Cleaner ($3 at eyeslipsface.com)
Shampoo: e.l.f. Studio Brush Shampoo ($3 at eyeslipsface.com)

Until next time,
Jillian

P.S. For more tips, check out these websites:

http://www.glamortips.com/cosmetics-guide/buy-makeup.php

http://www.realbeauty.com/makeup/beauty-expiration

Image Source: We Heart It