Spring Clean Your Makeup Bag

Here at Sally B’s Test Kitchen in Atlanta, Spring has officially sprung. One of the nicknames for Atlanta is “The City in the Forest,” and if you’d like proof just google our pollen count! We’re busy getting our raised beds ready and planning out our gardens, along with the annual purge of unused items, clothing and self-care products! We may not all think of our makeup bag or bathroom counter as a place for purging, but they deserve just as much attention as the rest of the house. Plus, once we’re done we have a reason to go shopping, and there’s nothing we love buying more than makeup!

Out With The Old

Just like food, makeup can go bad. Products past their prime run the risk of going stale, going rancid, losing effectiveness, and at worst, growing mold or harboring bacteria, all of which can negatively influence your skin’s health. Unlike food products, makeup products are not required to print an expiration date on their packaging. It’s our opinion you should toss liquid makeup after 6 months, powder makeup after a year, lip products after a year, and eye makeup (think mascara, eyeliner, and shadows) after 3 months. Airless pump packaging like our serum pumps, however, can help extend a product’s life by a few months.

But please, please, please don’t just toss them in the trash. According to the EPA, cosmetics and nail polish are considered household hazardous waste. Instead of sending your cosmetics down the drain or to the landfill, collect them and take them to your local Household Hazardous Waste collection spot. Find one here: www.earth911.com.

In With the New

Now that you have slimmed down your makeup bag, start replacing your products with healthier versions. If you need a new foundation, look for one without parabens, bismuth oxychloride, or artificial fragrance. And if you need a new lipstick, make sure you pick one without lead, mineral oil, talc, carmine, parabens, or formaldehyde.

With Sally B’s new subscription service, you can save on these new products and avoid the fear of running out!

Think Seasonally

When spring ushers in warmer temperatures, our look dramatically changes. Our sun-kissed skin will need a darker shade of foundation, and the color palette of our eye and lip makeup will more than likely become lighter and brighter. We know that it’s like saying goodbye to an old friend, but get rid of your wintery shades of makeup. By the time fall rolls around again they will be expired, and if they’re lying around you may just be tempted to use them.

Shop Smart

It’s easy to get into a routine when it comes to makeup, but again, consider the season before you shop. In the summer you may not need a moisturizer as you do in the winter, but you will need extra sun protection. Also, remember that there are only a couple of summer months on the calendar, so think before you buy that expensive, every-neon-color-of-the-rainbow eye shadow palette or 6th shade of bright pink lipstick. Will you get around to wearing it all before it expires? Take your vacation schedule into consideration when you answer this question. If you have several trips to the beach planned, you may not need much glam makeup at all. There is no need to fill your makeup bag with products you won’t use.

Also, make sure that you buy products that are as good for the earth as they are for you. If you haven’t looked into our EWG Verified products, find out more here!

Clean Your Brushes

With proper maintenance, your makeup brushes can have long, healthy lives. We recommend cleaning them once a month or when starting to use a new product. First, rinse your brush out with warm water. Once you have rinsed out the bulk of the residual makeup, apply a drop or two of non-toxic, gentle shampoo and more warm water to give your brush a thorough clean. Continue with these two steps until the water runs clear when you rinse the brush. Then, let your brush air dry overnight.

Think Outside Your Makeup Bag

Even though we put “makeup bag” on your spring cleaning to-do list, don’t limit yourself to just products in that bag. Take inventory of the products in your shower, on bathroom shelves, and especially those lurking at the bottom of your purse or gym bag. There’s no telling how long something has been in there, so it’s best to err on the side of “too long.” Exposing products to extreme temperatures (remember, your purse goes with you to the park and your hot yoga class) can compromise their integrity and shorten their lifespan. 

We know that Spring may not come as early to some parts of the world as here in the South, but go ahead and lean into Spring flavors (rhubarb, strawberries), Spring scents (rose, lavender), and Spring routines (picnics, fresh flowers) now. Once the days get a little warmer, you’ll be ready!