By Sumaiyya Naseem
We women love our cosmetics. Every purchase is a story and every bottle of perfume or lipstick comes with its own story and memories. The more we come to love our products the harder it becomes to let it go.
We would prohibit other women from using our lipsticks but we don’t mind using them for months ourselves. Is that entirely healthy? What about all the germs that are imprinted on the color?
Here are some cosmetics and when you should replace them!
- Chuck it: Every three months.
- Why: Think about the eye infection you could possible get due to the bacteria filling up the tube after every use.
- Tip: Don’t pump the stick to avoid drying out your mascara.
- Chuck it: Every two years (powder), one year (cream based).
- Why: The bacteria builds up on the palette after regular use. Most women apply cream eye shadows straight from the stick and this also leads to a build-up of bacteria.
- Tip: Clean your makeup brushes on a regular basis.
- Chuck it: Two years (pencil eyeliners), Three to five months (liquid eyeliner).
- Why: Bacteria, bacteria, oh no, infection!
- Tip: Sharpen your pencil eyeliner after every use.
- Chuck it: Every one year (foundation), 12-18 months (concealer).
- Why: If your foundation is in the powder form then bacteria can easily build up through the brushes or sponge. It’s easier to avoid bacterial issues with cream foundations. The colour and consistency of cream foundations and concealers start to turn after a year.
- Tip: Avoid applying these products with your fingers.
- Chuck it: Every two years (lipsticks), two years or more (lipliner).
- Why: They tend to dry out after a while and also…bacteria.
- Tip: Use a regularly washed lipstick brush (but, honestly, they’re not that fun!).
- Chuck it: Every 18 months.
- Why: The pigment loses its strength and bacteria build up. A brush is almost always required for the application of these products.
- Tip: Don’t buy too many at once!
- Chuck it: Six months (wand), one year (squeeze tube).
- Why: You guessed it! Bacteria and infections.
- Tip: Prefer using squeeze tubes because the bacteria can’t easily get in there!
- Chuck it: One to two years.
- Why: They usually dry out or the consistency becomes ‘stringy’.
- Tip: Add a few drops of nail polish remover to the bottle and shake it well to make it last longer.
- Chuck it: Four to six weeks and wash after every use.
- Chuck it: One to Five years.
- Why: The bristles might break, or fall off and the germs and bacteria can easily build up because the brushes are used on many products.
- Tip: Wash your brushes once a week if you use them daily, or once a month if you use them a few times a week. It really depends on how much you use your brush. Quality make up brushes can last a long time if you maintain them well!