When to replace...

Sure, there are a lot of things that need replacing - but this week, I'm going to be focusing on makeup and skin care products. I used to be completely clueless when it came to replacing pthese kinds of things, and often  freaked out when I realised the problems of keeping certain  products for  longer than I should be. So I've saved you the trouble of non-stop googling for 2 house and have compiled  everything into a list. :) Read on.


Makeup

Mascara (3 months) My sister and I used to think the "3 month mascara rule" was just a strategy that drugstore makeup brands used to sell more mascara, in less time. It turns out we were completely wrong! Since eyelashes are covered in a safe amount of bacteria (this is normal and completely fine), this bacteria is transferred to your mascara brush whenever you use it. After about 3 months of this multiplying bacteria sitting in your mascara, you can take a guess at just what you're applying to your eyelashes. It's just best to play it safe and buy a new mascara every 3 months.

Foundation (About a year) Since foundation isn't exactly a breeding ground for bacteria (you' squeeze the product out, rather than using it like a mascara/lipgloss tube), it can last for a while longer than some other products. This can also depend on how often you actually wear foundation - that is, if you use a small amount when you first purchase it, then don't use any for a few months - you should be fine (I really hope this is easy to understand).

Concealer (About 6 months) This is the same deal as mascara, only your skin is less likely to be holding the same amount of bacteria as your eyelashes.

Lip balm (9-12 months) It's usually easier to use one (and only one!) lip balm at a time. Once you begin to use it, the whole bacteria-spreading thing starts to happen. Just stick to one lip balm and you'll probably find that you'll finish the tube by the time you're due to throw it out.

Brushes (whenever) Depending on the initial quality of your makeup brushes, you won't need to replace them until you really need to (the bristles start falling out or become stiff, etc.). Instead, focus on taking care of your brushes by washing them 1-3 times a month.

Eyeliner (3 months) This is basically the same deal as mascara. This 3-month rule applies for any kind of eyeliner, whether it be pencil, liquid, gel or felt tip - if you've had it for longer than 3 months, get rid of it!

Hair

Brushes (depends) Once your hair brushes begin to dramatically lose their quality (you'll know when this happens), it's time to replace them. To avoid racking up some serious bills, invest in good quality brushes to begin with.



Anything else (whenever) When it comes to just about any other beauty product - toner, shampoo, etc... Replace it when you finish it. Also, please don't begin to use new products while your old ones are still half full - it's how girls archived the "goo hoarder" stereotype ;).

xx

Next Week: Making a decision (the right way)