Do you wash your makeup brushes regularly? Do you have breakouts pretty much every time you remove your makeup? It’s okay! We are aware of the truth.

But let us inform you that you are not alone in this situation. Even it’s common for the neatest person to delay cleaning their beauty tools. Some of us even have makeup brush cleaners, but we don’t use them frequently or at all. When you apply a dirty brush to your skin, you spread bacteria all over it. Not only the brushes but also the cases and bags in which they live are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. The most heartbreaking part is that everyone continues to do it despite knowing better. Not keeping your cosmetics and the area where you sit and apply your makeup products clean can lead to major contamination and damage to your skin.

Here are a few matters to consider when handling cosmetics to avoid contamination. So, do it for your health and quit committing these six following sins (Yes, you read it right):

1. Avoid using your hands or fingertips

Using cream spatulas or clean brushes that you can wash after each use is a more environmentally friendly approach to applying your beauty products. Because you most likely use your fingers to apply lip balm or moisturizer to your face. And we all know we don’t always wash and disinfect our hands first, which means we immediately contaminate the entire pot with bacteria from our fingers, which we then carry to our face.

2. Keep your surface clean and sanitized

You may clean your bathroom daily, but the wet environment in bathrooms is ideal for bacteria growth. Leaving your makeup brushes on the sink or benchtop where you apply will immediately infect them. Always keep your brushes upright to avoid coming into touch with unclean surfaces.

3. Don’t use expired products

Of course, it’s enticing to finish a $6 foundation, but the typical shelf life of your makeup is way shorter than you may imagine. The older the makeup, the more vulnerable it is to germs and bacteria, no matter how good the brand is. To avoid skin infections, foundations should be discarded after six months, mascara after three months, and lipstick after a year.

4. Stop Sharing Your Cosmetics With Others

Sharing an eye kohl pencil with your best friend also means sharing bacteria. After reusing the kohl pencil, you might have itching, red eyes, or eye problems. If you wish to let her use your goods, use disposable spatulas or brushes and clean them immediately after.

5. Don’t Forget The Makeup Bags

If you place the cosmetics and beauty tools in the same old makeup bag that has never seen soap before, they will be recontaminated the instant they touch the bag. Make it a practice to regularly wash your makeup bag with lukewarm water and dry it in the sun. Germs develop in the dark, wet atmosphere of a makeup bag.

6. Wash Your Brushes

We are back to where we started. Suppose you don’t have time to wash your brushes with a gentle shampoo every day, spray them with alcohol and clean them on a fresh tissue to prevent the mass of bacteria. However, washing and drying your brushes as frequently is the most effective strategy to avoid outbreaks and acne.

Maintaining proper cleanliness and practicing safe cosmetic use practices are essential for preventing makeup contamination. These can significantly decrease your chances of getting an illness from makeup and keep your skin free from acne, breakouts, and other unpleasant issues.