This is my guide on how to clean your makeup from bacteria and how it can collect bacteria! Just the other day I read an article on how your makeup can actually hoard dangerous bacteria that could actually harm your health. You also probably didn’t know that makeup can actually go out of date just like food, you may think it will be alright but chances are that the product will lose it’s effectiveness and contain harmful bacteria.

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WHY YOU SHOULD CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH

I did a little bit of research into each topic and decided to gather it all together for you. Not cleaning your makeup and makeup brushes can actually cause you to become ill with Meningitis, Blood Poisoning, Urine Infections and Gastroenteritis but also causing bad skin conditions such as acne.

CLEANING YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES

It may sound tedious but you actually need to wash your brushes and you need to do it properly. Try doing it every day if not every other day after using them as the build up of product and bacteria can increase and also reduce the productivity of your brush. Also there is nothing better than clean and soft makeup brushes.

I love using The Pro Hygiene Collection’s Makeup Brush Sanitizing Wash for cleaning my brushes alongside my Brush Egg. All of The Pro Hygiene Collection’s cleaning products reduce the bacteria by 99.99% and also stops bacteria from coming back again without damaging the productivity of the brushes. It works on all brush fibres and sponges. It’s fragrance free so it’s perfect if you have sensitive skin like me.

READ MORE: The Pro Hygine Collection Makeup & Brush Cleaning Kit

CLEANING YOUR MAKEUP PRODUCTS

You may not think it was possible but you can actually clean your makeup products from foundation, eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks to blushers and bronzers. I love using The Pro Hygiene Collection’s Antibacterial Makeup Spray. You just spritz your makeup products with this and leave them for a little while for the spray to work it’s magic and it reduces the bacteria that collects on each product.

When cleaning foundations and lipglosses make sure you clean around the nozzle or rim of each product with an antibacterial wipe to remove debris and build up of product which gathers around the nozzle and rims.

I would also recommend using hand sanitizer on your hands before and after applying makeup to remove any bacteria that your hands may pick up and to prevent you from putting that back on your face. I love using Carex or The Pro Hygiene Collection’s Hand Sanitizing Gel which is fragrance free and dries quickly without drying out your hands so you can apply your makeup quickly in your daily routine.

MAKEUP EXPIRATION DATES

Unlike food, the FDA doesn’t require expiration dates on makeup, skin, or hair products. That doesn’t mean you’re on your own when it comes to figuring out if your mousse is past its prime. Many skin-care and makeup brands opt to include a Period After Opening (PAO) mark on their packaging to indicate how long the product will remain fresh after the first use, and lots of hair-care brands have followed suit.

To find the PAO mark, look on your product’s label for a small drawing of a container marked with a number and the letter M, typically on the back in the lower right-hand corner. The number is an estimate of how many months the product will maintain its quality after it’s been opened for the first time.

2 – 3 MONTHS

Mascara, Nail Files, Face Peels & Masks, Acne Pads

6 MONTHS – 1 YEAR

Liquid Eyeliner, Liquid Foundation, Concealer, Acne Creams & Washes, Eye Cream, Face Wash, Serum, Liquid Highlighters, Hair Serum, Cleansing Lotions

1 – 1.5 YEARS

Cream Eyeshadow, Lip Gloss, Face Cream (Jar), Eyebrow Gel, Lip Balm Sticks, Liquid Tints, Spot Gel Treatments, Fake Tan

2 YEARS

Lip & Eye Pencils, Lipstick, Nail Polish, Powder Eyeshadow & Blush, Powder Foundation, Pressed Powder, Body Lotion (Jar)

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What products do you love using when cleaning your brushes and makeup?