Makeup: Keep It Clean

By Judy Kirkwood

Most of us wear makeup to enhance our appearance. We apply it to a clean face and expect the cosmetics we use to be clean and safe as well. But are they?

Here’s what you should know about trying on makeup at cosmetic counters and keeping makeup clean at home. In addition, store makeup out of sunlight to protect preservatives, tightly cap it to keep out contaminants, and know when to toss your tubes and jars. (We used dummies.com guidelines.) As a general rule, don’t try anything on display that is uncovered.

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Mascara We’ve all heard “Don’t share eye cosmetics.” No one wants to contaminate an eye with bacteria. Most makeup store counters now carry individual use mascara wands to dip into mascara samples. Don’t test unless you believe the wand to be unused. Whether the samples themselves have been contaminated is hard to say. At-home mascara should be tossed after 3 months as it has a high risk of transferring bacteria back and forth from your eye to the tube. Store testers for mascara probably don’t last that long but how do you know someone hasn’t “double-dipped” even with a clean disposable wand? Testing mascara remains somewhat risky.

Eye Pencil See that the eye pencil sharpener is wiped with alcohol on a clean cotton swab and then sharpen the pencil before testing. Because the outer layer can be peeled off, eye pencils can last for up to two years, but they usually don’t if you use them often.

Eye Shadow The colors and shimmer of dry eye shadow powders are so seductive that they seem clean enough. Maybe so, but that depends on whether the eye shadow brush is consistently cleaned with alcohol and whether anyone has used a finger to apply the shadow. One solution is to bring your own eye shadow brush and clean it with alcohol. Alternatively, most counters offer fresh cotton tip applicators. Don’t even try liquid or cream eye shadows as they are more difficult to keep clean. Cream eye shadows should last one year; powder eyes shadows two.

Lipstick It is so tempting to try lipstick. Because it is an everyday item and can be expensive, we want to know we are making the right decision. But how much closer can you get to ingesting bacteria than spreading it on your lips? Makeup counter attendants may give you an individual applicator, but be sure the lipstick itself is sprayed with alcohol or wiped with a clean tissue. Or better yet, just apply it to your wrist instead of lips. Lipstick tubes and pencils should last about two years at home.

Blushes and Foundation This is another important daily item that is an investment. Finding the right shade has taken years for some of us. The inside of the wrist is supposed to be an acceptable match for your face shade, but that is not always the case. Try asking to use a fresh tester for peace of mind, but if that is not possible, make sure that the sponge you use for foundation is fresh and the brush for blush is decontaminated. Foundations, concealers, and blushes should last for 12-18 months, but it is important to use fresh applicators; often they can be washed out at home and re-used.

Lotions Only use samples that you can squeeze into your hand; don’t dip into open jars. Once you have experienced the feel and aroma of the lotion, wash your hands in the restroom, or with an antibacterial wipe or lotion. Don’t apply lotion to your face unless you are in a spa or salon situation rather than a department store. Lotions usually last for quite a long time, but ingredients can separate or evaporate after a year. Use your best judgment. If you haven’t used it up in a year do you really need it?

Judy Kirkwood is ThirdAge.com's Contributing Writer and Forum Director.

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