If you’re like many women, you wake up in the morning, wash your face, and apply some form of makeup. Perhaps your go-to cosmetic is mascara, or maybe you don’t feel fully yourself without concealer or foundation that creates an even base. Whatever your makeup of choice, one beauty pro has a tip: give your skin plenty of breaks from makeup to prevent cosmetics from clogging your pores, drying out your skin, and even breaking down collagen.
Layers of makeup can damage your skin over time, especially if you aren’t taking smart steps when it comes to changing products every so often and letting your skin rest. Here are some of the scary downsides to wearing makeup every day, and how to be smarter with your makeup.
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Watch Expiration Dates
Expired or old makeup like foundation can build up bacteria that you then spread to your skin. In addition to bacterial growth, old foundation can cause breakouts and skin irritations, and other makeup products like mascara and eye liner can cause eye infections. It’s important that you throw out old makeup and replace it. Here are general guidelines about how often you should replace common makeup products:
Mascara: Replace every 3 months.
Liquid eyeliner: Replace every 3 to 6 months.
Pencil eyeliner: Replace every 12 to 18 months.
Liquid or cream foundation: Replace every 6 to 12 months.
Liquid concealer: Replace every 6 to 12 months.
Powder products (like blush, bronzer, or eyeshadow): Replace every 1 to 2 years.
Lipstick and lip gloss: Replace every 1 to 2 years.
Lip liner (pencil): Replace every 1 to 2 years. Sharpen it regularly to keep bacteria down.
Cream products (like cream blush or cream eyeshadow): Replace every 6 to 12 months.
Makeup sponges/blenders: Clean weekly and replace every 1 to 3 months.
Makeup brushes: Clean them weekly and replace as needed.
Wash Makeup Off Every Night
Never sleep with your makeup on. Doing so can clog your pores and disrupt your skin collagen’s ability to regenerate. To effectively remove your makeup, try a two-step cleansing routine that involves using a balm to melt away makeup and a gel-based cleanser to follow up and remove excess dirt and sebum from your skin. Follow up with a toner if you’re wearing several layers of face makeup that you feel haven’t been properly removed. Your skin will thank you.
