How to Spring Clean Your Make-Up Collection

Spring is a time for new beginnings & new opportunities and has therefore traditionally become the time for cleaning and organizing one's home. But it is not just a good time to clean those closets and junk drawers, but a good time to clean your make-up drawer as well.
Make-up does have a shelf life although most of us might not know it or just do not think about it; and it is a health risk to continue using old make-up. Applying old or expired make-up can transfer bacteria and cause an infection. Do not save old make-up because you cannot afford new items or you simply love a particular item. Go buy a new one!!!
Since you are probably cleaning those closets and that garage, why not add your make-up drawer or case to the list-it might just be your health you are protecting. Follow these easy steps and you will be on your way to a clean, sanitary make-up collection.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. To start spring cleaning your make-up collection, first go through your make-up drawer and throw away all items that you cannot remember using over the course of the last year. This might be difficult but even if it is your favorite blush or lipstick or an ultra-expensive item, DO NOT USE IT! Throw it away. If you did not use it in the last year you will not use it again. Remember, it is not just wasted money but your health.

2. Next, visually inspect and smell all items, especially liquid foundations and mascaras. All make-up has a shelf life and once opened should be used or thrown away according to the standard schedule for each particular item, but definitely before it changes color or develops an odor.

3. Next, if the make-up does not smell or look bad, do a mental inventory of when you originally purchased each item. If you have had the item too long, just throw it away. When determining if an item should be thrown away follow this schedule: Foundation may last up to one year but if it smells or the consistency changes throw it away; lipstick is long-lasting up to three years but if it smells throw it away; mascara is very short-lived at 3-6 months because it is applied closest to the most sensitive area of your face-the eyes-but if it is smelly or clumpy throw it away; eye & lip pencils are also long-lasting up to three years but if they become discolored throw them away; powders, blushes & shadows may last up to three years but if they become discolored throw them away; finally nail polish may last up to two years but if it becomes permanently separated or smells throw it away.

4. Next is the fun part! Now that you have purged from your collection old or unsanitary items, go shopping and replenish your make-up supply. Devise a purchasing strategy to keep down the costs before heading to the stores-always check the weekly ads and always use coupons if you can. Most drug stores feature weekly specials for Buy 1 Get 1 or 50% off sales, and combined with coupons, many brands become very cheap. I recently bought $70 worth of Loreal product for $15 after a Buy 1 Get 1 sale combined with my coupons (you can use a coupon for each item even at Buy 1 Get 1 sales)!!! And if you buy department store brands buy new product during a bonus offer sale.

5. Now plan ahead for your next spring cleaning. Devise a labeling or tracking system that you can use to coordinate the shelf life of your new products-label the item itself with the maximum expiration date; tape an index card to the inside of your medicine cabinet and record the maximum expiration date of each item; or enter a reminder in to your electronic calendar on the maximum expiration date and you will receive an e-mail reminder to yourself (Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.). Next year your make-up spring cleaning will be a breeze!

Tips & Warnings

• Do not buy expensive make-up if you do not use it on a regular basis.
• Buy only what you need and will use on a regular basis. If you only wear powder, lip gloss, and mascara do not buy multiple shades of shadow, blush, and lipstick. It will only result in wasted money.
• Buy drugstore/discount store brands. Maybelline, Cover Girl, or Loreal are just as good as Estee Lauder, MAC, or Bobbie Brown. In fact, many "high end" brands manufacture discount lines as well.
• Keep your make-up in a cool, dry location to ensure the longest shelf life possible.
• DO NOT share make-up with anyone-even your sister! You are sharing germs/bacteria and compromising your health.

[1creativemama]

on 8/10/2009 Great Job. Thanks this has somewhat helped my decision in my make-up rendering.