new year: MAKE-UP CLEAN OUT

IF YOU’RE IN CLEAN-UP MODE FOR THE NEW YEAR…

don’t forget your make-up bag! Some things may be well overdue being tossed out!

Here’s what you might want to ditch:

Liquid Foundation and Nail Polish: If they remain separated after you shake them, they’re done. For good.

Lipsticks: Kind of gross, but smell them. If there’s something vaguely chemical about your second-favourite red, it’s past its prime. Sticks that are sweating or that have a dried texture are on their way to becoming rancid. (You usually have about three years till that happens.)

Liquid Eyeliner: One word: microbes. Silicone-based liners are safe for two years, but water-based ones get iffy much faster. If in doubt, toss.

Fragrance: Once opened, a fragrance stays fresh anywhere from a year to eight years. (But the eight years is a long shot.) Heavy orientals have a longer shelf life than light, citrusy scents. If you got a new fragrance over the holidays but you’re still using your old one, store the new bottle in its original packaging in the refrigerator—it’ll keep longer.

Sponges: If yours are brittle, buy new ones. Old, porous ones will suck up your makeup and you’ll lose way more money on lost foundation than you will by buying a fresh pack.

Brushes: If the bristles are fraying or falling out, dump it. Plus if your brushes become too pinched or squashed, then they simply will not be up to the job.

{Pic: Becca Cosmetics}