The Ugly Truth About Your Beauty Stash

Avoid unwanted breakouts and ditch expired beauty products today!

(Adapted and expanded from July edition of Quon's Eyes Face To Face Magazine)

Since the emergence of COVID-19 the world has become more germ conscious than ever before.

The beauty industry itself received an overnight overhaul as recommendations emerged to diminish the spread of the virus through common shopping experiences at beauty retailers nation-wide.

If you haven't already, it's time to take a cue from beauty retailers and examine the health and safety of your beauty stash.

If not properly stored or monitored, your beauty products and tools can become a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria, germs, and viruses ...waiting to wreak havoc on your skin.

Did you know that all beauty products have an expiration date? Expired makeup contains bacteria that is harmful to your skin and can lead to unwanted breakouts or infections. Stave off unwanted skin concerns by following our product expiration guide.

Equally important to product expiration is product storage. Improper storage can cause products to spoil even faster and promote the growth of bacteria. Beauty products and brushes should be stored in a cool dry place, and not in your bathroom. The daily steam from hot showers and baths creates the perfect temperature to promote bacteria growth and cause products to spoil over time. Do you store your makeup brushes on your bathroom counter? Depending on the size of your bathroom counter, that could be a no-no too. The splash zone of your toilet and bathroom sink could be a little too close for comfort and fall within reach of your brushes.

To protect the health of your skin, makeup brushes should be washed weekly. If you have an active acne breakout wash your brushes nightly to avoid spreading acne bacteria. Your makeup brushes should never be shared with anyone as you can introduce bacteria from others onto your face.

To keep bacteria at bay and to protect the health of your skin follow our helpful product expiration guide:

Shelf life: 2 Years

Product(s): Powder Products

Powder blush, bronzers, foundation, and powder setting products are in it for the long haul! To reach that 2-year mark you must maintain clean makeup brushes to keep unwanted bacteria at bay.

Shelf life: Up to 1 Year

Product(s): Brow, Eye, and Lip Pencils (non-liquid)

Thanks to frequent sharpening, non-liquid pencils are good for use up to one year. Liquid pencils and liners should be replaced every 4 months.

Shelf life: Up to 1 Year

Product(s): Lipstick and Lip Glosses

With proper care and storage your favorite lippies can last up to a year. If you ever notice a waxy or cheese-like smell from your lipstick or gloss that means it's time to toss it immediately. In protecting the health of your skin and your overall well-being it is important to remember to never share lip products with friends or relatives.

Shelf life: 6 -12 months

Product(s): Concealer and Foundation

Liquid to cream foundations generally lasts 6-8 months. As most foundations differ in formula this window maybe shorter or longer dependent upon the formula of the foundation. Water-based foundations can become breeding grounds for bacteria. If you ever notice a smell from your foundation, breakouts, or see product separation it's time to discard your foundation. This also applies to liquid bronzers, blush, and highlighters.

Shelf life: 3-6 months

Product(s): Eyeshadow

Although eyeshadows are powder-based, because they are in contact with the eyes and at risk for picking up germs, your shadows will tend to have much shorter shelf life than your other powder-base products. If you ever notice itching or redness of the eyes from using your eyeshadows, it's time to discard them. If you develop an eye infection (pink eye) eyeshadows should be discarded or throughly sanitized to prevent another infection.

Shelf life: 3 Months

Product(s):Mascara

Mascara should be monitored as your mascara tube can become a breeding ground for germs. When mascara becomes clumpy or has a weird smell it's time to discard it. If you develop an eye infection the mascara you used prior to or during the time you exhibit symptoms of infection, should be discarded to prevent reinfection.

Shelf life: Up to 30 days

Product(s): False Strip Lashes

It is important to note that all lashes are not created equally. Typically, "drugstore" and "beauty supply store" lashes are made for one-time use. The bands used to construct the lashes are not like the premium cotton-lash bands you will find at QuonsEyes.com. Therefore, the lash band itself tends to become comprised with repeated use because it is simply is not made to withstand continued daily use. Quon's Eyes lashes are hand-crafted and made with premium materials and a soft cotton lash band. Our lashes are made to last for 30 days of consecutive wear, with proper care.

Makeup Brushes and Applicators

Makeup sponges (if they are kept clean and stored properly) should be discarded every two months or sooner. Makeup sponges are porous and have tons of tiny spaces where bacteria can hide, which means these beauty favorites can be breakouts waiting to happen. Makeup brushes should be washed weekly, at minimum. If you are experiencing an active acne breakout you should was your brushes nightly to prevent transferring acne bacteria to other parts of your face. Even if kept cleaned and stored properly your makeup brushes should be replaced yearly. If your brushes become misshapen or shed excessively, this also means it's time to discard your brushes, even if you haven't reached the one year mark. In protecting the health of your skin and your overall well-being it is important to remember to never share makeup brushes or sponges with friends or relatives.

Sanitizing Your Makeup

Your makeup should be sanitized weekly. If you are experiencing an active acne breakout you should sanitize your makeup nightly. If you are a makeup artist your products should be sanitized after each client.

You can create your own DIY makeup sanitizer by adding isopropyl alcohol to a small spray bottle.

Simply spray your beauty products and allow them to throughly dry before use. This can be used on all beauty products except mascaras, liquid foundations, and liquid liners.

If you ever notice an unpleasant smell from any of your cosmetics, sanitizing those products will not help and they should be discarded.

Sanitizing Your Lashes

Every time you touch your lashes or rub your eyes throughout the day you are transmitting germs from your hands to your lashes and eyes. Our hands - even in the most healthy and fastidious of us — are teeming with bacteria. The average person can find between 2 to 10 million bacteria between your fingertips and elbows. Even more gross - most germs can survive for up to three hours on your hands.

When wearing removable strip lashes, daily lash wearers should establish 2-3 lash wash nights per week (at minimum), to keep bacteria from building up on your lashes.

Our plant-based Rose Hibiscus Lash Lather is formulated for nightly lash washes, if desired. Besides smelling absolutely amazing, our foamy lash cleanser features antimicrobial properties from Chondrus Crispus, Rose Hip Seed Oil and Eriobotrya Japonica extract. It also features hydrating extracts to deeply nourish and restore your lashes to their original luster.

Until the next time beauties, Command the Room, Period!

XoXo, Quon's Eyes

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