Sanitizing Makeup 101: Everything You Need To Know About Keeping Products Clean

Imagine, for a brief moment, not washing your bathroom towels regularly, not sanitizing your eating utensils, or not cleaning your reusable water bottle. If any of these caused you to shudder, take a moment to think about your makeup. You've likely been lectured to clean your makeup brushes before (as you should), but have you thought about the makeup itself?

Why do you want to be diligent about cleaning makeup, just as you may be about cleaning brushes? Simple: "When you don't sanitize your makeup regularly, bacteria will grow on it. Bacteria can cause irritation and acne when it comes into contact with your face," says Titus Tse, co-founder of Coral UV. 

There was a time and an age when swapping lip glosses and using a swipe of a friend's mascara was a rite of passage: If you haven't already, stop doing that. "For goodness sake, do not share makeup, now or ever, but especially now!" warns celebrity makeup artist Jenny Patinkin.

Remember that makeup touches very sensitive areas of the body, like the lips and eyes, so you should take every precaution to keep these items germ-free. This means examining where you are storing your makeup: Avoid placing it open on a bathroom counter, as it leaves your makeup vulnerable to very icky avenues of contamination, as studies have shown. Sure, it may be your most convenient option, but it is the least hygienic.  

"A dirty makeup brush or sponge can contaminate your makeup (foundation, blush, etc.). After dipping a bacteria-filled brush or sponge into your makeup, bacteria will grow in the makeup container, because of the dark, moist environment. This is not only bad for your skin, but it can decrease the quality of the makeup," says Tse. 

Derms agree, too: "Your natural oils, bacteria, makeup, dead skin cells, dirt, and grime accumulate on the brush, and then you are just reapplying that on a daily basis," says holistic board-certified dermatologist Keira Barr, M.D. "This can lead to a lot of skin issues—acne, contact dermatitis, infections—but then from a functional aspect the brushes aren't going to work."

Liquids typically have a water base to give them a fluid consistency. This creates a problem insofar as water creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. And thus a few extra precautions should be taken with these sorts of products. 

As a general rule, always avoid dipping fingers or used brushes into jars, as this will transfer bacteria into the pot where it can grow and fester. 

"With liquid makeup or mascara, you can add a small amount of rubbing alcohol directly into the container or onto your applicator, but be careful—if you use too much, it can change the texture of the product or irritate your skin or eyes," she says. So start with a very small amount (a single drop), and whisk it in. You can always add more if you feel the size of the jar warrants it, but you can never remove it if you feel you've gone too far. 

LED lights have become popular as a means of sanitizing everything from masks to keys. They can work for your makeup and brushes, too. If you invest in a high-quality LED sanitizing tool—that's been vetted by third parties—the LED can kill up to 99.9% of germs.  

Makeup hygiene doesn't stop at regular cleaning—you need to know when it's time to say goodbye. It's never easy tossing a pretty lipstick or a mascara that you're just sure has a few more swipes left in it, but it's for the best.