That eyeliner has been
sitting on your dresser for two years. But you just can't let it go. A
trip to the store for a reload is tedious and potentially costly, and
nothing else gives you that perfect cat's-eye. You know it's wrong, but
you love it. Besides, if you've already spent a fortune on your
foundation or shadow, do you really have to throw it out after just a
few months? Yeah, yeah ... old make-up is bad for you, but just how bad?
As it turns out, there can be some nasty,
even dangerous consequences when some types of make-up have exhausted
their shelf life, but that doesn't mean you can't make it last a little
longer.
To Preserve & Protect:
Three months. That's the general
throw-out rule for eyeliners and mascaras. They touch the sensitive and
damp inner eyelid, which is susceptible to infection. Pencil liner
could last you a bit longer, says to Michelle Keck, makeup artist on
ABC's "Private Practice." But nothing is fool-proof without a few
precautions.
"As a makeup artist at work, I use
alcohol spray on pencil liners, and then I shave them down, then I spray
them again," Keck said, noting that such extreme care and sanitary
practices are essential when working on set with so many different
people.
A meticulous cleaning technique is a
good idea for anyone using pencils, makeup artist or not. Keck adds
that the consistency of the pencil plays a part, too, in how well it may
age and safely last.
"I've kept pencils up to a year,"
she said. "But after that time, they may lose their creaminess and dry
out.
The creamier it was to begin with, the shorter lifespan it has."
But Keck does not take any chances.
"Mascara goes off very quickly
anyway, but anytime somebody has an irritation in their eye of any kind,
I recommended they throw away all of their eye makeup."
But how can you tell it's gone bad? Just like that milk in the fridge, it needs to pass the smell test.
"I don't put dates on my makeup. I
really use my nose more than anything," Keck said. "And if a product is
starting to smell off or dries out, then I know it's time for it to go,
whether or not it seems unsanitary to use anymore.
"With foundation, you'll notice
either an off smell or the formula begins to separate when it's getting
old.
When you shake it up, it doesn't really mix well."
Keck recommends keeping foundation
for six months to a year, depending on how you use and apply it.
Pump
dispensers can extend a foundation's lifespan.
Indeed, beyond knowing if it's bad,
you should also try to control when it goes bad. Those pump dispensers
are one trick. And palettes are a handy way of drawing out the life of
creamy products. Keck decants cream blush into a palette, and for makeup
such as cream shadows and cake eyeliner, the palette allows the use of
clean brushes.
"If you have eyeliner in a pot,
scoop a little bit out and put it on a palette," Keck advised. "Then use
a brush. Never double-dip a brush from your eye back into the product."
Don't use your fingers, though. As
manicured as they may be, those digits can be dirty. And once exposed to
bacteria, the product will start to degrade more quickly. You can
always use clean fingers to blend once the product is applied to the
skin. And once you've dispensed the foundation from the bottle, using
your fingers can be an economical move, allowing you to use the product
sparingly.
"When you use a sponge or brush,
they soak up the product, and some of it goes to waste, whereas using
your fingers doesn't waste any of the foundation," Keck added. If you
do use a sponge, though, "You should be using a new one every time," she
said. "Most people don't because they figure, 'Oh, it's my own face.'"
Dry products such as pressed powder
or powder blush aren't quite as big a concern. You can get a year out
of them, notes Keck, particularly if you're not sharing. Their age may
not be as obvious, though. Expiration may show its face simply when the
products don't blend well or stop performing. Still, Keck says, of all
makeup, powder products last the longest.
What's the Damage?
If you choose to ignore all the advice in pursuit of your cat's-eye, can it be that bad? Actually it can.
"Old makeup can become a breeding ground for bacteria," said Dr. Stuart Kaplan, a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist.
"[It] may cause your skin to become
red, itchy, swollenor even develop an infection," said Kaplan. "This is
especially true for your eyelids, which have thinner and more sensitive
skin." Pustules, anyone?
Many products make claims of organic or natural qualities, which could lead you to think you're safer, longer. But think again.
"Your skin may love [natural ingredients], but so do bacteria," Kaplan said.
If you do have a breakout, you
don't necessarily need to panic. Sometimes it's just allergies. Other
times, it's worse. Either way, it's difficult for you to tell the
difference.
"For any reaction, it is always
best to consult your dermatologist," Kaplan advised. "However, if you
see pus, crusting or oozing, it suggests you have a bacterial infection.
Redness and swelling can be seen with either an allergic reaction or an
early bacterial infection, but since the treatments are different, you
must get a professional diagnosis."
If you're unsure if something is safe, Kaplan suggests doing a skin test before putting makeup on your face.
"Each person can have a different
reaction to makeup," he said. "If you have sensitive skin, apply a small
sample on your inner arm for a few days. Remember though, in
particularly sensitive cases, even if your inner arm does not react,
your face or eyelids can still become irritated, since the skin there is
even more sensitive."
With this in mind, it's best to err
on the side of caution with eye products in particular. If you're in
any doubt, throw it out. Stick to the three-month rule for liquid
eyeliner and mascara, and sterilize and sharpen pencils between each
use. And remember Rule One of the golden rules: Don't share.
"You don't share your toothbrush," Kaplan said. "Don't share skin products or brushes."
Makeup Safety Tips:
• Try labeling your makeup with the date you
purchased it. You can use a silver or gold permanent marker for a more
attractive result.
• If you use a makeup bag, clean it thoroughly
on a regular basis. Place the empty bag in hot soapy water, wash and
dry completely before using. If the exterior is not washable, spray the
interior with antibacterial cleaner.
• Wipe down the outside your products with
antibacterial spray, and keep a peroxide spray handy for sterilizing eye
and lip pencils.
• Cut a sliver off your lipstick if anyone else uses it, and sharpen all pencils between uses.
• If you're storing your make-up on your
dressing table or a similar open space, keep that surface clean by using
bleach or a sanitizing spray once a week.
• Makeup kept in your handbag should be
carried inside a clean, separate zip-up bag to protect it from contact
with bacteria-laden tissues, keys and change.
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