Time to spring-clean your make-up bag
THERE’S something lurking at the bottom of your make-up bag, and it’s not pretty. Expired cosmetics harbour dangerous amounts of bacteria.
This not only directly affects the individual wearing the make-up, but it also can affect anyone they come in contact with.
Make-up can be infected with bacteria after only one use. The bacterium builds up over time and can cause harm to a person’s skin, eyes, lips and overall health.
When make-up gets old, it starts to break down, and this can cause issues from irritation and inflammation to rashes, blisters, eye infections and pink eye.
To prevent these from occurring, here are some tips:
– Look through your old make-up for chemical changes, including a rancid odour, colour change, changes in texture or consistency, and make-up becoming crusty/clumpy.
– Protect your skin from the sun. Most foundations have some level of SPF. Expired make-up is less effective when protecting against the sun, which can cause painful and dangerous skin burns.
– Never share cosmetics. Cross-contamination occurs when two or more people use the same application tools and make-up. The main danger with sharing make-up is passing an infection or virus.
– Wash your hands and cosmetic tools before applying eye cosmetics. The bacteria on your hands and brushes increase the chance for an eye infection or allergic reaction.
– Don’t store cosmetics at temperatures above 85°F (29.4°C). Cosmetics held for long periods in hot cars, for example, are more at risk of preservatives in the make-up weakening.
– When applying or removing eye cosmetics, be careful not to scratch the eyeball or some other sensitive area of the eye. Scratches can cause infections and sight complications.
– Write down the date of the make-up when you buy it. If you’re not sure when to toss old make-up, six months is a good rule of thumb. – Mayo Clinic News Network/ Tribune News Service