John Myers
Germs can collect in expired cosmetics or on dirty makeup paraphernalia. These can lead to blemishes and inflammation on the face. Find out here which simple hygiene measures help.
Shelf life of cosmetics: what should be considered?
How long cosmetic products can be kept unopened can be seen from the best-before date on the packaging – you can usually store unopened jars and tubes for up to 30 months. As a sign of the expiry date, an hourglass is shown on some packages with the corresponding point at which the product should no longer be used.
After opening, the shelf life of the products is reduced. On the packaging, you will usually find a symbol depicting an open jar with a time stamp next to it, for example, “12M” for twelve months. You can normally still use the cream, make-up, or serum for that long.
Nevertheless, it can happen that cosmetics are no longer good before the actual expiration date due to poor hygiene, excessive temperatures, prolonged exposure to the air, or other external factors. If you notice that the texture, smell, or color of a product has changed noticeably, discard it as a precaution.
Avoiding germs in cosmetics: tips
To ensure that you can use your cosmetic products for as long as possible and do not have to throw them away before the expiration date, you should note the following:
Do not reach into the cream jar with unwashed fingers. Wash your hands carefully beforehand or – even better – remove the cosmetic product with a clean spatula or cotton swab.
Tubes are more hygienic than jars: it is even safer if you use cosmetic products from tubes. Because then you don’t need fingers or other tools to remove the cream, serum, or make-up from the packaging.
Always keep cosmetics sealed airtight and protected from light: Most cosmetic products do not tolerate sunlight, excessive temperatures, or contact with oxygen. Therefore always close the packages carefully and store them in a cool, dark, and dry place.
“What’s mine is yours?” Not necessarily! Sharing is laudable, but when it comes to cosmetics, you better be selfish. It is best not to lend lipstick, lip care, nasal ointment, eye cream, mascara, and other cosmetics that come into contact with your mucous membranes. However, you can occasionally share products that are stored in tubes, spray bottles, or flacons and that can be removed without direct skin contact.
Apply day cream and make-up neatly: That is important
However, germs can not only accumulate inside the packaging if the product is not stored optimally. Hygiene errors can also occur during the application itself, which promote pimples or infections.
This starts with shopping when you want to test make-up products such as eye shadow, lipstick or foundation. It is better not to try these cosmetics directly on your skin, but use a cosmetic tissue instead. Or clean your hands and the corresponding area of skin immediately after the test – moist cleaning wipes or disinfectant wipes for your handbag are practical for this.
At home, only apply your day cream with freshly washed hands or use a cotton pad. If you want to use your fingers to apply make-up so that you can spread foundation and the like better, wash your hands thoroughly beforehand. Otherwise, it is more hygienic if you use clean sponges, brushes, and applicators for your make-up.
Cleaning sponges and make-up brushes: It’s that easy
You should clean your make-up utensils at least every two weeks. All you need is warm water and some mild shampoo. Carefully wash out the sponges, brushes, and applicators and rinse with warm water. You can then gently wring out excess water with your fingers or squeeze it out with a clean towel. You can place the make-up utensils on a clean cloth to dry.
By the way: Even the cosmetic bag needs a thorough cleaning in the washing machine from time to time.
If you use the make-up helpers every day and clean them frequently, there will come a day when you need to throw them away and replace them. If the shape or consistency of the brushes and sponges has changed or if the utensils smell unpleasant, it is advisable to buy them new.
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