Even if your makeup bag looks spick-and-span – no crumbly foundation or decade-old lipsticks – it could still be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. That’s because every time you pull out your lip gloss or mascara, bacteria descend, ready to spread nasty infections such as sties, cold sores and the flu. And surprisingly, a survey from the folks at Q-tips has found that only 34% women clean their makeup bags at least once a year. Ewww!
Press the reset button
First of all, dump everything and clean the bag thoroughly (inside and out) using anti-bacterial wipes or baby shampoo. Allow to dry completely before replacing the contents. Next, wash all makeup brushes, whether or not they seem dirty. This is also the perfect time to take stock of what you are actually using right now and store away the rest in a cool, dry place.
Sanitise, sanitise, sanitise!
No makeup artist would be caught dead without a mammoth supply of 99% alcohol, hand sanitiser and antibacterial brush cleansers. Once a month (or after you’ve had any infection), gently swab all makeup surfaces – blush, compact powder or foundation, lipstick etc – with the 99% alcohol to de-germify. And keep a pencil sharpener handy – it’s the best way to keep your brow, eye and lip pencils sanitised.
Switch to plastic
Powders, dyes and germs latch on to cloth or canvas surfaces, making them difficult to clean. A makeup bag made from plastic, on the other hand, can be easily cleaned with a wet cloth.
Sharing is not caring
DO NOT SHARE YOUR MAKEUP. EVER! This is not being selfish – merely smart. Sharing lipsticks and mascara wands is the easiest way to spread germs. And that’s not all: do not double-task your tools. Lip brushes should only be used on the lips, and the same goes for eyes. This is not a place to mix-and-match.
How often do you clean your makeup bag? Tell me in the comments section – I promise not to judge!
This is such a great article! I’m pretty good about cleaning my brushes, but I always forget about the bag. Thanks for reminding me!