💄 Makeup hygiene is nothing to be sneezed at.

If you're like me, you love your daily ritual of applying some blush, mascara and filling in those scarce brows. Makeup is my morning staple, and a ritual for feel good self-care. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy days of being makeup-free, but I love the extra kick I get when I wear it.

Way back during my Dermal Therapies degree, Microbiology was so important it was a standalone subject with lectures focussed on microbes and their effect on the environment. We performed many experiments investigating bacteria - and swabbed away at items in our makeup and handbags.

We made astounding discoveries. We found Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli bacteria on our brushes, lipsticks and other makeup items, demonstrating that makeup harbors bacteria. When bacteria from products and applicators mix together with the moisture from our skin, it's the perfect jacuzzi for multiplication. This can cause skin breakouts, infection transfers and eye problems.

😷 Move to 2022 and in the midst of a global pandemic, we find ourselves being extra cautious about transmitting germs and keeping ourselves and our items sanitised. The importance of hand washing, personal hygiene and protocols for surface disinfection have become second nature to most of us, and I highly recommend that we move these routines to our makeup and makeup tools. Caring for your makeup and being as clean and hygienic with your tools as possible is the best way to prevent the influx, multiplication, and spread of some pretty nasty bacteria.

✨ Washing Your Tools ✨

It's so easy to forget to wash your makeup tools and applicators including brushes, so I find that setting a calendar alert on my phone is the best reminder. I'd recommend washing weekly for those wearing makeup more than 5 days per week, and at least fortnightly for those wearing their makeup less often. Once you get started it fits into your routine quite easily. I even get my 20 month old toddler to join in the fun of washing brushes, creating bubbles in our kitchen sink with some dishwashing liquid and warm water. These steps below keep brush-washing uncomplicated and use household staples:

1. Rinse your makeup bristles under warm water

2. Gently massage in soapy water- using a small squirt of a gentle shampoo or dishwashing liquid in a kitchen tub of warm water is what I find best

3. Thoroughly rinse until the water runs clear and repeat steps if still dirty

4. Squeeze excess water out

5. Lay on a towel to dry- if the sun is out it's even better for a quick dry!

For hard cased items like mascara, eyeshadow, lipsticks and gloss, spray disinfectant onto a paper towel and wipe down the plastic surfaces and around rims that collect product and bacteria.

✨Expiry Dates ✨

When we ignore expiry dates on our makeup, skincare and hair products, we ignore the date that the preservatives begin to stop working and the product begins to break down resulting in the overgrowth of bacteria. Some cosmetics can go through an oxidation process and also separation or hardening which creates uneven application and faster expiration of the product. Some of the issues that expired products create include irritation or infection to the eyes and skin, skin breakouts and rashes.

If you are unsure if your product has expired by double checking the label, sometimes the change of smell and/or texture can be a giveaway.

✨ Sun and Heat ✨

Living in Australia means we are prone to hot summer days, excessive humidity and applying makeup only to have it dripping off our face mid-afternoon. Heat and sunlight have strong effects on cosmetic products. They can accelerate the oxidation process, cause the formulation to separate and destabilise the solution rendering it useless. Keep this in mind when you are storing your products in your friend's car for a few hours midday, or travelling in a hot bus with no air-conditioning. Each of your products are designed to withstand heat up to a certain temperature, usually around 25-30 degrees celsius. After that, the product begins to break down, and your protection from bacterial nasties is gone.

We all want value for the money and time we spend on makeup and cosmetics. Let's protect our products as well as our skin and its integrity.

Summary of tips to protect your products:

1. Set phone or calendar reminders for cleaning

2. Annual spring clean of your cosmetics drawer and dispose of expired products

3. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting tools and applicators

4. Keep items in a cool environment.

xx

Amanda Younan, Senior Dermal Clinician Thrive Skin Clinic

BSC (DERMAL THERAPY), DIPLOMA OF BEAUTY THERAPY