subject: Advice For Keeping Your Eye Makeup Products Clean [print this page] We only get one pair of eyesWe only get one pair of eyes. Therefore, keeping your eye makeup products clean is a must.
Not only will you reduce your incidence of eye infection, but if you're a contact lens wearer, keeping what goes on your eyes clean is a must.
There are some very basic rules every makeup wearer should follow when it comes to their eye makeup products. Knowing them and keeping them in mind when it's time to clean out your makeup bag will extend the lifetime of the products you use and keep your eyes healthy for years to come.
Rules for mascara - Mascara should be kept and used for no longer than about 6 months. A good rule of thumb for remembering when to toss your eye makeup products is to throw them out when the seasons change. That way you don't have to wonder.
If you're in doubt, take a look at the packaging. Many eye makeup products now feature a small trash can icon with a number on it. That number signifies how many months you should retain the product.
Another rule for mascara is to never reuse it after you've been sick. Cold and flu germs can stay on the wand and re-infect you even months later. Spending the money to purchase a new tube is much better than being sick!
Rules for shadow - Never share your eye makeup brushes with anyone else. Eye makeup brushes can harbor dirt and germs just like your mascara wand can. So if you share them with a friend who's got a cold or recently had conjunctivitis, you could risk infection.
Clean your brushes regularly with eye makeup remover. Simply rub the brush part with a dab of oil-based remover, rinse with hot water, and set out to dry overnight. You can even put them in the dishwasher if you prefer a deep-down clean.
Also, don't forget to clean the brush's handle where grime from your hands can live. A simple wipe down with disinfectant will do for this area.
As for the eye shadow itself, it's fine as long as your brushes are clean. You can keep powdered eye shadow for up to 2 years while the cream stuff should be tossed after 12-18 months.
If you're having trouble remembering when to throw out a product, use a permanent marker to mark the date when you purchased the eye makeup product right on the label.
