By: Cassy Cancino of Five by Five Blog
By: Kelly Gropp of Real Beauty by Kelly
Your entire home is disinfected, you cough into your elbow and sneeze into a tissue. Aside from locking your doors and living inside, you’re good, right?
What about your makeup? Egads!
Not to worry, here are tips to keep your makeup sanitary during flu season and beyond!
Hands – Even though you’ve washed multiple times throughout the day, wash your hands immediately before using your makeup. There is a meme making the rounds that reads: “wash your hands like you’re about to put your contacts in and you just had crab legs for dinner.” Ha! As appealing as “antibacterial” soaps sound during flu season, be sure to use hand soaps that do not contain Triclosan. Not only is it harsh and drying and harmful to our environment (polluting waterways), it is also connected to multiple health factors including hormone regulation and has been known to disrupt our endocrine system. According to the American Medical Association, there is no evidence to support the theory of antibacterial soap being more effective than good old soap and water.
Sharing – When it comes to makeup, forget what you learned in kindergarten and do. not. share. It doesn’t matter if your BFF is the picture of health. During the incubation period before symptoms develop, people are sneekily contagious. Plus, it’s just yucky.
Brushes – Keep your brushes and sponges clean. Clean them every 1 to 2 weeks (depending on how often you wear makeup), and you certainly may wash them more often during flu season. And while we’re on the subject of brushes, never blow on a brush or on your makeup for that matter. If you have excess powder that needs to skedaddle, tap your brush or compact over the sink.
Surfaces – As easy as Maskcara Beauty products are to use while traveling, remember to avoid placing your brushes in trays or cup holders or on public tables/counters. These places are a breeding ground for bacteria just waiting for something to cling to.
Tiny Hands – Do you have little fingers in your home? I do, and I make sure to keep said little fingers out of my compact! Their fingers are like petri dishes. In my own home, I keep my compacts in a bathroom cabinet up nice and high, away from any potential petri dish fingers.
Sanitize – Isopropyl 70% Alcohol is your friend. Use it to spray your powders (eyeshadows, pressed and loose powders) and spray or wipe lipsticks and other cream makeup. The 70% is key. Don’t be tempted by the 99% alcohol thinking it will be more effective—it’s actually the opposite. There isn’t enough water in the formula to kill bacteria like the 70% can.
For the Makeup Artists
If you’re a makeup artist, sanitizing and hygiene goes to another level. If you are applying makeup to anyone other than yourself, all of the above applies, plus a few extras.
Brushes & Sponges – Never reuse or share a sponge or beauty blender from one client to the next. Under no circumstances. Period. Always clean brushes between each client.
No Dipping – Use a metal palette and spatula to avoid dipping directly into makeup. You should also use the spatula to “hand” lip color to your client for her to apply. Sanitize the spatula with 70% alcohol between each color and/or transfer, and wipe the entire palette and spatula between clients.
Lashes & Mascara – Be sure to use disposable mascara spoolies when applying any brand of mascara on your clients. You would be surprised how much bacteria we hold in our lashes. And always use a new spoolie with each dip to prevent any type of contamination to your mascara tube.
Follow these tips to keep your makeup sanitary during flu season and your chance of spreading or contracting a nasty bug-by-lippie is greatly reduced!
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