Makeup Bad Habbits!!

The bad habit: Going to bed with your makeup on.

Break it! Sleeping with a day’s worth of makeup, dirt and oil on your skin is the quickest path to clogged pores, zits, even eye irritation—not to mention stained pillowcases. Keep a stash of makeup remover wipes in your bedside table drawer for nights when you’re too tired to wash your face. Choose ones with moisturizing ingredients such as vitamin E or glycerin.

The bad habit: Storing makeup in your bathroom.

Break it! All that warm, moist steam from the shower is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can nestle into your foundation, shadow, and more (and also shorten their shelf life). Store cosmetics in a cool, dry place.

The bad habit: Not washing your makeup brushes.

Break it! Think about how grimy the hair on your head gets after only a few days of not washing it. Now multiply that times 50 and that’s what builds up on the bristles of your makeup brushes when you neglect them—not great for your skin. Also, ewww. Clean brushes every two to three weeks with baby shampoo or a mild soap and let them dry overnight. In a pinch, brush-cleansing wipes, such as those by Japonesque, can do the trick, though brushes should still be fully washed when you have the time.

The bad habit: Using expired makeup.

Break it! Makeup that’s past its prime usually won’t harm you (though it can have a buildup of bacteria, which for eye makeup especially can lead to irritation or infection). It just won’t work as well—colors can oxidize and change, formulas can separate and look splotchy on your skin, and powders can dry out. Toss anything that’s been open longer than a year (unopened makeup that’s stored in a cool, dry place can last up to two years). Mascara conks out sooner than that, though, at about three months. If you notice any changes in a product’s texture, color, or odor, replace it.