Keep breakouts and skin allergies at bay by picking up these good hygiene practices on how to clean make up brushes properly and keep products sanitised
Most of us are well aware of how essential it is to keep our makeup brushes and beauty products clean. But if you’re like me, these practices are often thrown out the door when we rush through our morning routines—brushes are briskly wiped with a wet tissue, and fingers are double-dipped into day creams or foundations so we can be ready and out the door in 15 minutes.
However, as cleanliness and hygiene become more important than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic, perhaps it’s time to pay attention and start adopting these good habits.
And who better to consult than the experts in this subject—namely, professional makeup artists Andrea Claire, Cheryl Ow, Clarence Lee, Dollei Seah and Grego Oh. We ask these beauty maestros to share their top tips for maintaining the hygiene of their products and tools, as well as their recommendations for cleaning products.
Don’t use products past their expiry
This may be the oldest rule in the book, but you’d be surprised how many still break it. Andrea advises being mindful of expiry dates, while Cheryl highlights that mascaras should be thrown out after six months—“It’s the fastest germ-collecting item!” And if your cosmetic is starting to look or smell musty before its expiry date, that's also your cue to throw it out.
Cosmetics that contain more moisture or are used near your eyes tend to have shorter lifespans. This is because the products can trap bacteria and harbour disease-causing microbes, which gives rise to skin problems such as rashes and infections.