Clean Up Your Makeup Bag

Make-up guru Bobbi Brown recently told a British newspaper that this is the perfect time of year for every woman to overhaul her cosmetics kit.

“I love the “back-to-school” feeling of September, and cleaning out your make-up bag is a great way to start,” Brown says. “Dump everything out on the floor and throw out anything that's two years old or anything you haven't touched for six months.”

If you have any items that lists as below, make sure you remember to take care of them in time.

Mascara

If you’ve been using the same mascara throughout winter it’s time to buy a new one. Be brutal and turf any tubes that have been open longer than two months. Really. Think how close mascara lives to your eyes and then take another look at that rapidly drying tube.

When throwing out that old mascara, it is time to buy another. So let’s go shopping.

Brushes

Whether they’re made of natural hair or synthetic fibers, all brushes can be washed in warm soapy water. A gentle shampoo or foaming cleanser works well. Just remember to rinse really, really well in lots of clean water. Carefully squeeze back into shape and leave to air for at least a day.

Alternatively, there are speciality cleansers designed just for brushes that shorten drying time to a matter of minutes. Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser sprays on and tissues off while MAC Brush Cleanser disinfects and conditions on contact. Just wipe on to a tissue and see the color disperse.

BTW, if your brushes are starting to shed or feel scratchy, it’s time to replace them. Check out    .

Sponges

Wash sponges as above, ensuring you squeeze out all of the colors. Rinse each in plenty of clean, warm water and dry in the sun. If that sounds like too much work – remembering this really should be done weekly – just buy new ones.

Pencils

Wipe pencils, including lids and the outer surface, with an anti-bacterial make-up remover cloth such as Clearasil Deep Cleanse Deep Cleansing Wipes. Finish by sharpening each pencil to reveal a fresh tip. Manicure Cosmetic Pencil Sharpener has dual slots to fit most pencils.

Compacts

Shake compacts over the sink to dislodge any loose powder flecks. You’re going to need those Clearasil Deep Cleanse Deep Cleansing Wipes again to wipe the surface of your compacts, inside and out. Follow with tissue to remove any residue on mirrors and leave lids open for an hour to dry.