I know it's been a while since my last blog post but I guess that's a good thing because I've been busy! I have lots to share with you so bear with me on my many blog posts! I hope you can keep up!
My first topic is something that every girl who loves their favorite (and hoards) old makeup, or shares it with a best friend, sister etc. needs to know... HYGIENE and trusting cosmetic companies that makeup does actually EXPIRE! Please - take it from me... I speak from experience not only as a "hoarder" but also as a victim.
Last month I thought I would pay tribute as an alumna (and earn some extra cash) by sitting as a demonstration model for interviewing, would-be makeup instructors at the school where I earned my creds. I also saw it as an opportunity to learn some new tricks and see how a few of my peers did their job. Some where great and I did take a few notes... Others, not so much and found myself sitting tight-fisted with sweating palms, waiting for the torture to end.
One "makeup artist", who was self-taught (which means nothing other than that no one has ever told her right from wrong) not only scared me with her cup of dirty brushes, but the kit from which she worked had makeup that had not been on the market for at least TEN YEARS!
So what? You may say to yourself - "I have makeup that old too..." Well, if that's the case, THROW IT OUT NOW! TRUST ME! Not only was I in fear of the creatures growing on this girl's brushes, my face is so sensitive and prone to breakouts that I was trying to find a "happy place" as she applied the MAC foundation that hasn't existed since about 1999.
Maybe it was the smell of mildew that made me think of my grandmother's basement where I happily played with my Barbies that stopped me from launching this girl and her nasty-ass kit across the room. I'm not kidding. The foundation was so old that it had reached it's 12 month expiration date when I was still dying my hair with Manic Panic. It smelled of mildew and I was NOT happy to have been putting my face through this torture. My heart was POUNDING and my palms were certainly SWEATING! Even more so after she grabbed the nub of an eyeliner without sharpening it or cleaning it, and applied it to my eyes!
Now, it's one thing not to wash your brushes when they're your OWN personal brushes and they ONLY touch your face, but when you're working on clients??? Unacceptable. AND I do admit that I have a makeup "graveyard" of products that seise to exist, BUT It's for comparison purposes only! I think of them as my "archives" and keep them in a box so I don't forget about the products I once loved and hunt for new ones to replace them. I certainly do not use them on myself, let alone anyone else!
Being self-taught is no excuse! Everyone should practice good hygiene with themselves regardless of being taught to do so on others. It's COMMON SENSE! At least for me... so now I'm tell you and you have no excuse either. But I'm talking about a personal practice here that everyone needs to know, just for professional purposes.
All makeup whether it's a powder or cream and your brushes (if you use them) are carriers of bacteria. It's your own bacteria (unless you share your stuff) but bacteria none the less. If you don't practice proper hygiene with your makeup you're looking for trouble down the line. And regardless of what you may believe, makeup does expire, just like food! Have you ever seen a nail polish separate and turn color? Well the same goes for your liquid and cream based makeups!
Breakouts, eye infections, and get this... even damage to your skin can all come from old makeup and not cleaning your brushes. Here are some of my tips to keep your makeup and your face FRESH!
1. Clean your brushes at least every 3 months with your facial cleanser or baby shampoo. Wash them in soapy warm water and let them dry overnight on a paper towel. It's best to do this on a weekend when you are given your face a break (if you remember from one of my earlier blogs).
2. On the powder products that you use occasionally (and will probably have for longer than that expiration date) spray them with alcohol using a small spray bottle that you can pick up at any beauty supply or even the travel section of the drugstore. This will keep your makeup clean and free of bacteria between uses. I recommend doing this for all your shadows but if you have ones that you use everyday, you may use them up before they die anyway.
3. DO NOT keep lipgloss or mascara for more than SIX MONTHS. Trust me. There is no way to keep these products sanitary unless you use a separate wand every time... now who the hell does that on themselves? - not me! Bacterial lives and grows in these products so just throw them out!
4. During and after a cold or being sick, spray and slice off a chunk of your lipstick to prevent germs and other bacteria from growing. Sound gross? I know... but it's true! I'm sure you've heard about switching out your toothbrush after a cold, well this is the same idea. Don't even bother with the gloss if you're sick... you'll just be wasting it and my guess is that you'll be using Chapstick anyway.
5. For your makeup "graveyard", make a list of the products that you love and try to find replacements, don't keep makeup for more than a year unless you've started spraying it from day one. There is no reason to hold onto things if they're not around anymore. Make a separate pile of these and go shopping! There are SO many new and wonderful things out there now that you won't even miss the old ones. And you don't have to break the bank either. Target, Walmart and even Kohl's have some really great products that will make the transition seem painless and so worth it.
AND THE LAST...
6. DO NOT SHARE YOUR MAKEUP!!! This seems like common sense to some, but it's a very common task. We've all borrowed a girlfriend's lipstick in the bathroom at a club or tried a friend's new mascara... I'm guilty just as some of you are. But please... Don't do this. Would you use your friend's toothbrush or share a piece of gum after it's been chewed? Then why would you share a mascara, eyeliner or even a lipstick? Germs are germs no matter how clean we all are... or aren't. :)
Well, I hope my traumatic experience has shown some light on this very important topic. And you all take it to heart before you let someone else touch your face... other than me.
You know I'm clean baby! ;-)
Xoxo
Jen
