How to Clean Out Your Makeup Bag

Most of us have a drawer filled with half-used lip glosses, cracked blushes, and mascaras from who even knows when. That's why we solicited the help of an expert to find out what products you need to ditch (like, now) and what's worth holding onto.

By Andrea Lavinthal

Print
Comments
0
Share
separated makeup
Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Divide and Conquer

Start by dumping all of your makeup onto a table or the floor, says Raychel Wade, a makeup artist who offers a service called Makeup Bag Rx, in which she cleans out her clients' makeup, discarding prehistoric products and unearthing hidden gems. Next, arrange the makeup into the following categories: lips, cheeks, eyes, miscellaneous. Once everything is separated into groups, you'll probably notice that you own several products in the same shade, says Wade. "No one needs a dozen pink blushes or six red lipsticks."
checking for makeup quality
Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Check for Quality

When it comes to the quality of your powder shadows, blushes, and bronzers, a fancy brand name or how much you paid for it shouldn't be a factor, says Wade. Here's a better way to gauge what deserves a place in your bag: First, dip your finger into the powder. It should feel silky and almost creamy. Next, look at your finger. The color should appear as opaque and rich as it did in the container. Last, run the powder across the top of your hand. It should spread easily, like a liquid. If a product fails these three tests, throw it out.

table full of makeup
Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Narrow It Down

Once you've eliminated the junk from your makeup bag, you can start paring down the remaining loot. Things that should get the boot include trendy colors that someone convinced you were essential (anything with glitter falls into this category), gunky cream blushes and highlighters that have seen better days, brushes with the hairs splayed in a million directions, and anything that you inherited from a friend, says Wade.
woman smelling her mascara
Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Do a Smell Check

The easiest way to tell if a product is still good is to take a whiff, says Wade. If it has a weird, chemical odor, get rid of it. Here's a general expiration guide:
• Mascara: Three to four months
• Foundation: Up to two years
• Lipstick and lip gloss: Two to three years
• Eye and lip pencil: Three to five years (as long as you sharpen them before each use)
• Powder-based products: Two to three years

Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Toss What You Don't Use

At this point your makeup bag should contain only the bare essentials. If you're still grasping onto a teal eye shadow or mauve lipstick because it came as a gift with purchase, give yourself permission to trash it. "Ironically, people have the hardest time throwing out products that they received for free," says Wade. "If you haven't used it in six months, you're never going to, so just get rid of it."
Shanna Ravindra/Hearst
Back Next
View Thumbnails

Clean Your Brushes

The final step in your makeup bag makeover is cleaning your brushes, says Wade, who recommends that you do this every two weeks to keep them in good shape and prevent breakouts from oil and bacteria buildup. Use a drop of regular shampoo and warm water and then lay them flat to dry on a towel.

To make an appointment for a Makeup Bag Rx and expert-guided application lessons with Raychel Wade, visit her website at cheektochic.com.

Return to Slideshow

Related Links