Re: Autumn 2016 | Page 41

you have many makeup brushes I really recommend makeup brush cleaning glove or mat by Sigma. It is an absolute life saver (sigmabeauty.com). Cleaning your makeup products is just as important. You might clean your brushes but bacteria stays on makeup too. I like to use The Pro Hygiene Collection Antibacterial Makeup Spray on makeup products and tools. It kills 99.99% of germs within 60 seconds of application without affecting product performance. It works on gels, creams, pencils, powders (loose and pressed), lipsticks and palettes of lip colours. Using your fingers is just as bad as using dirty brushes. You might think that your hands are clean but it’s not necessarily the case. The oils on your hands can spread bacteria much more easily than makeup brushes, causing blemishes and skin irritations. It’s important to check the makeup label before you buy a product in case you are allergic to some ingredients. An allergic reaction could cause redness, irritation, eye swelling, or infection and if you come across an allergic reaction make sure you look for a different product. Every makeup product has its expiry date. It’s very important that you store your cosmetics as recommended and you get rid of it as soon as the expiry date passes. At the back of every product there is a picture of a tiny pot with a number on it next to the letter M. It indicates how many months a product can be used from when you open it, although there are some exceptions. You should get rid of anything that smells odd, is dried out or has been exposed to drastic temperature changes. Be extra cautious if you are a contact lens wearer as you are more prone to eye problems related to eye makeup. Eye makeup products may accidentally contaminate your contact lens even if the smallest makeup particle comes into contact with it. Always insert your contacts with clean hands prior makeup application. To reduce the risk of makeup flaking off into your eyes try to avoid heavy makeup close to the eye. Herpes simplex virus is an unpleasant problem which causes cold sores. If you have this terrible virus it’s important that you don’t share your makeup, especially your lipgloss or lipstick with anyone else. Equally you should not be using someone elses makeup as they might have the virus. Just one incidence of sharing a lipstick can lead to a lifetime of this horrible condition. There are many terrible eye infections that you might catch by sharing your mascara, eye liner, eye shadow etc. The most common unpleasant infection is conjunctivitis also known as pink eye. This infection of the lining of the eyelid results in red, itchy, watery eyes and can last for up to a few weeks. Pink eye is very contagious, so it is very easy to spread it by sharing the same makeup. The problem is that you won’t be able to see if the person is a carrier, so simply don’t share yours and don’t borrow someone’s makeup. If you’ve just gotten over an eye infection, it’s important to get rid and re-stock your eye makeup right away. The dry dark environment of a mascara tube is a perfect environment for bacteria, fungus, or a virus to flourish and re-infect the eye. So be strict and get rid of that makeup! Sounds expensive right? Simply don’t share. Beauty should be clean just like the tools that helps to create it. Get yourself into the habit of cleaning your brushes and makeup and stop sharing your cosmetics with others as it’s not worth the risk. So go grab your brushes and let’s clean! B  y Asta Perkins astaperkins.co.uk Photographer: Kris Karl Photography Model: Victoria Winterford 39