Cleanliness of the makeup bag

Many people are familiar with cleaning their closets once or twice a year. It’s the same thing for your makeup bag! It’s important to de-clutter and clean out your makeup bag a few times a year. The reason? Your makeup products and tools accumulate a lot of dirt and bacteria that are harmful to your skin.

De-cluttering expired products

The first thing we recommend is that you get rid of the products you no longer use.

Next, check the expiry date on your products. On the packaging, you will find a logo of a pot of cream with a number followed by the letter m. This will indicate the product's shelf life after opening. It can be difficult to remember, so we suggest you also observe the product's colour, texture and smell. If any of these features have changed and the product no longer resembles its original state, get rid of it!

Using expired makeup or skincare products means that they will be less effective. Even more importantly, they could negatively affect your skin's appearance.

Disinfecting your products

Now that you only have your favourite, non-expired products left, you can use a disinfectant wipe to clean them, including the packaging, caps, pumps, etc.

As for the product itself, spray your powders and creams a few times with rubbing alcohol. This will take care of eliminating all the bacteria on your products. Don't worry! The appearance and texture of your products will not change. Before putting everything back in your makeup bag, don't forget to clean it too with a wipe or put it in the wash.

Disinfecting of your tools

Don't forget your makeup tools! Your brushes, sponges, mirror, eyelash curler, and tweezers all need to be disinfected. Start by cleaning your makeup brushes and sponges at least once a week.

When it comes to cleaning your brushes, you have two options. The first option is to dry clean your tools with a product with a lot of alcohol inside. There are several products available, and they often come in a spray format. Using it is simple: spray the product on a cloth or directly on your brush, then wipe it off on a cloth. You will see all traces of makeup disappear, and your brush will be dry in seconds. We recommend this type of cleaning at least once a week.

For the other technique, you can use a specific shampoo for your brushes. This offers extensive cleaning—and it is the most effective. Wet the bristles of your brushes, add a drop of cleanser, and gently massage them until they are clean. Then, gently wring out and let your brushes sit horizontally on a cloth for several hours, until they are dry. It is very important to avoid getting the brush handle wet; bacteria can form and cause mildew. Also, be patient before putting your brushes back in your makeup bag. They must be 100% dry.

Shampoo brush cleaning can be done once a month in combination with dry cleaning every week. You can also opt for shampoo brush cleaning every week. It’s entirely up to you!

For your makeup sponges, feel free to dispose of them as soon as you use them. As for reusable sponges, we advise that you clean them with the shampoo technique after each use. Use a disinfectant wipe regularly on all your other tools, such as your eyelash curler, tweezers, mirror, etc.

As you can see, keeping your makeup bag clean is not rocket science. All it takes is a little time—but most importantly, willpower and consistency. By following our tips, your skin will be happy and healthy!

Written by Jean-François Casselman-Dupont in collaboration with Familiprix.