Spring Cleaning, Beauty Edition

Spring is the time to clean and declutter! I have to say, it’s one of my favorite motivators… but this year I wanted to get a little more aggressive with my cleaning and not only focus on the closets and the yard, but also my skin care! I’m now a Beautycounter consultant, after using the product for a couple years myself and remaining completely obsessed, I decided to add it on to my wellness repertoire.

I understand the urge to hold on to your favorite makeup products, I just got rid of a few eye shadows I’ve had since for an embarrassing 10+ years, but it’s just got to happen… using these old, expired, broken products is not hygienic and can compromise your safety too. Beauty sponges, brushes, and makeup can easily be a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to breakouts, irritations, and inflammations. We definitely do not want any of that! Thus, it is super important that we do Spring Cleaning, beauty edition.

I have outlined 10 easy and simple steps to Marie Condo your makeup collection to welcome the newness springtime brings!

Get everything out in plain sight

Make sure you get everything out, seeing all your beauty products out, altogether will help you audit and organize them.

Group similar items together

Put all of your eyeliners in one pile, lipstick in another, and so on. This way it is easier for you to identify which one to go, which item to keep. This will also help you realize how many bronzers or lip glosses you have and do not need.

Check the expiration dates

Yes, cosmetic products do have expiration dates. Look for the open jar symbol with a number + the letter M (month).  Usually, it would say 3M or 12M. This means that the shelf life of the product is that X number of months from the time it was opened. 

Using expired products can cause irritation and inflammation. Expired products also tend to lose their effectiveness and may develop an off smell.

Once you have identified expired products, throw them right away. You can also make an inventory of those products that are going to expire soon.

Declutter, throw out makeup tools and products that are old and you no longer use

Keeping unused makeup tools and products can overwhelm and clutter your makeup collection and may keep you away from acquiring essential products. If there are lipsticks that you do not use probably because you hate the shade or what, toss them away or if they are new, give them to someone else who might love the color!

Toss that mascara away!

Mascaras have the shortest shelf life of all makeup.  Most of the mascaras are only good for 2-3 months. So if you’re nearing the 3-month mark, think of getting a replacement. But if you no longer remember when you opened it, toss them away already!

Sponges & Brushes

Spring Cleaning or not, it is important to wash your beauty blender or sponge every after use. Not doing this can accumulate bacteria on the sponge, leading to breakouts, clogged pores, and infections.

Make-up brushes hold on to oil, bacteria, make-up, and even dirt. So if you have not washed your brushes ever since, Spring Cleaning time is the best time to do it. Use a gentle shampoo or a charcoal bar to wash them. When washing them you’ll be surprised how much dirt comes out and might have wished you have done the washing sooner!

Go for Safer Products

Spring may be the best time for you to welcome new and safer makeup products. While you are spending time examining the case or bottle, dig into the ingredients… #cleanbeauty is easier than ever to find but speaking to someone who can make recommendations and knows the product lines can make or break the experience.

If you haven’t joined the Beautycounter bandwagon, I can’t say enough. In 2 days I noticed a huge shift in how soft and bright my skin was and I’ve been a fan for years since. They are making huge waves in clean beauty ad revolutionizing skincare.

 If you are new, I’d highly encourage you to check out the regimens. It’s a great place to start - and typically products you go through more quickly anyway and might be more comfortable refreshing during cleaning this spring!

Happy Spring!

xo, Alex