Makeup is full of bacteria. It’s gross, we know…but thankfully, there are some ways to cut down on the infectious microorganisms and keep your makeup, and skin, germ free.
A Breeding Ground of Bacteria
Your makeup has some bacteria in it, before you’ve even handed over your credit card. As soon as you get home and open it up, excited to try it out, additional airborne bacteria swoops in. Your eye makeup is especially vulnerable to a bacteria attack.
The International Journal of Cosmetic Science published a study that showed how 79% of 40 mascara samples taken from real women were contaminated with staph bacteria! Over 86% of the women reported that they used their mascara past the three-month expiration mark. While the three-month mark is a suggested expiration date (makeup manufacturers aren’t required to label expiration dates on their products) it’s a recommendation you should follow to the letter. Use your mascara after three months and you greatly increase your risk for pink eye and other inflammatory eye conditions.
The mascara tube is a dark, moist environment that bacteria thrive in. Contact wearers are especially susceptible. Any fungus growing unknowingly on your contact lenses is easily transferred to your mascara wand, straight to the mascara tube, where it multiplies!
Your eye is defenseless against bacterial infections due to all the open pores where eyelashes have fallen out, as well as tear ducts and glands.
Set a reminder on your smartphone to toss that mascara after three months!
Here are some other makeup expiration dates:
Eyeliner, Eye Creams, Face Creams: 6 Months
Powdered Makeup (eye shadows and blush): 3 to 4 months
Liquid Makeup (foundations and tinted sunscreens): 6 months to a year
Sanitary Solutions
You can cut back on bacteria in your makeup with these common sense sanitary solutions!
Before applying makeup of any kind, wash your hands with soap and water.
Never dip your fingers into a product. Either pour a dab into your palm or scoop out with an applicator tool.
All brushes and applicator tools should be cleaned regularly. And never set them down on a counter where germs proliferate!
Keep an eye out for signs of expiration, such as a change in smell, color or consistency.
Don’t use other people’s makeup unless you want to pick up their personal breed of bacteria. If you do, be sure to clean the brushes before and after use!
How to Keep Your Lash Extensions Clean and Bacteria Free
You can practice the same sanitary solutions when caring for your lash extensions, plus the following tips:
Be careful to avoid rubbing your eyes and playing with your eyelashes. It's also helpful to sleep with a mask or on a satin pillowcase for less friction on the eyes.
To extend the life of your lashes please see a trained lash tech for fills every two to three weeks. Everyone loses five to six of their own natural lashes every day as part of the natural growth cycle.
