How to Sanitize Your Makeup

Hello Gorgeous! Today is the last day to enter the Benefit Eyeshadow giveaway on my Facebook page, so be sure to enter if you haven't done so already!


A couple months ago I answered a question regarding the shelf life of different types of makeup (read it here). One way to increase the shelf life of your products is to keep your makeup and brushes clean and sanitary. This will also help prevent breakouts and possible infections. Sanitizing your products is quick and easy, and I recommend doing it at least once or twice a month. All you need is some Isopropyl alcohol, a small spray bottle, paper towel, and a little soap and water.

Pour some of the alcohol into your clean spray bottle. I use Isopropyl instead of regular rubbing alcohol because it has a higher percentage of alcohol, which means it evaporates faster (this will be important when sanitizing eyeshadows, blushes, etc). I picked up this bottle at CVS for $2.


Before you get started, make sure your work surface is clean. You'll also want to choose a work surface that won't be damaged by the alcohol (i.e. don't do this on wood or a painted surface). Next, lay out everything you want to sanitize so you can work quickly and easily.

These are the types of items you will want to/can sanitize: brushes, powder, blush, eyeshadow, lip sticks, lip balms, tube lip glosses, pencils, eyelash curlers, etc.

First, use paper towel to wipe off any dirt or makeup from the outside of the items. If it doesn't come off easily, you can use a damp towel with a little soap on it. Next, using a clean, dry paper towel, wipe off the top layer of your powder products (e.g. pressed powder, blush, eyeshadow). You will also want to wipe off the tops of your lip sticks, eye/lip pencils, lip balms, and products that come in a tube. For brushes or other beauty tools, use a mild soap (hand soap will work fine) to wash the bristles and handles (Sigma Beauty has a good video tutorial if you're not sure how to wash your brushes). Once you have done a preliminary cleaning of all your products and tools, you should begin spraying them with the alcohol. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to wear gloves because the alcohol can dry out your skin very easily.


When spraying your products with alcohol, start with the outside container, then open them up and spray the entire inner surface (including lids, mirrors, etc). I usually spray the product itself a couple times, which will completely cover the top layer of the product in alcohol. Once you have sprayed all your products and tools with alcohol, let them air dry, which will only take a few minutes. Using a sanitizing product with a high alcohol content (such as Isopropyl alcohol) will ensure none of your products are damaged or altered in any way due to the fast drying/evaporation time.


Keep in mind, some products cannot be sanitized, in which case, you should not keep them longer than the recommend shelf life. Such items include loose powders, mascaras, liquid eye liners, and any product that you reinsert the applicator after use.

These types of items cannot be sanitized.

By following this simple routine, you can extend the life of your products, avoid breakouts, and save money! If you have any other questions regarding makeup care, please feel free to leave a comment or email me! I love to hear from you!

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Ask Tara: When do I need to throw my makeup away?

Last week, Couture Carrie asked me how long she can keep using her makeup before she needs to throw it away. This is such a great question and one that I feel many people have! Thus, today's post is all about helping you decide which items you need to throw away, and which ones still have some life in them! Get out your makeup bag (or if you're like me, makeup drawer) and get ready to say buh-bye to some dear old, but not so good friends.


First, let me tell you that the main reason I would suggest throwing away cosmetics is to prevent breakouts, skin damage, and clutter. While cosmetic companies often suggest very short life-spans, I would never suggest you throw something away if you like it and it doesn't pose a health concern. Below is a list of cosmetic items with their true shelf lives:

• Mascara- Mascara unfortunately has the shortest shelf life- only 3 months. This is because the tube is a breeding ground for bacteria (they love dark, moist places), which can be very hazardous to your gorgeous eyes!  Though I hate parting with mascara if it's not dried out, this is one shelf life that I don't like to exceed.
• Liquid Eyeliner- Like mascara, liquid eyeliner is prone to bacteria growth.  Replace your liquid liners 3-6 months after opening.
• Pencil Eyeliners & Lipliners- Pencils are the longest lasting of all cosmetics. As long as you sharpen your pencils regularly (about once a week), you can expect these babies to last 3 or more years!
• Eyeshadow- Powder eyeshadow should be good for at least 2 years (sometimes I use them longer) and cream eyeshadow will last between 12 and 18 months.
• Blush- Like eyeshadow, powder blush will last about 2 years, while cream blush will only last for 1 year.
• Lip Stick- Lipstick is another workhorse in the cosmetic world.  You should be able to use your lipstick for 2-3 years before it needs to be tossed.
• Lip Gloss- Since lip gloss contains more moisture than lipstick, it won't last as long.  Toss after 18 months- 2 years.
• Face Powder- Although I go through face powder pretty fast, if you don't use it as often, then keep in mind that you should replace pressed powders after 1 year, while loose powders will be good for about 2 years.
• Foundation- Water-based (oil free) foundations should be replaced ever year. Oil based, cream, or compact foundations can be used up to 18 months.
• Concealer- Like other types of makeup, concealer that contains less moisture, such as stick concealer, lasts the longest- up to 18 months.  Liquid concealer should be tossed after one year.
• Nail Polish- Although separate will usually reveal when your nail polish needs to be tossed, polishes that are too thick or dry should also go in the garbage.  If you keep your polishes closed tight and out of sunlight, they should last about 1-2 years.
• Brushes & Sponges- To get the most out of your brushes and sponges (and prevent breakouts and irritation), wash your them regularly.  Sponges, lip brushes, and eyeliner brushes should be washed with a little shampoo and warm water every week, while blush, powder, and eyeshadow brushes should be washed once or twice per month.

If you have items that are older than their suggested shelf life, or if they smell off, it's time to say goodbye! Also, there is no point in keeping makeup around that no longer goes on smoothly, that has changed color, or that you simply don't use. While I like to mix things up and try new looks, I also make it a point to go through my collection every few months and get rid of any items that are too old or simply unwanted.

To get the most out of your makeup, make sure to store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Also, always be sure to wash your hands before applying makeup, and never use your cosmetics on broken skin (you don't want bacteria getting in, nor do you want to redistribute bacteria from broken skin the next time you use your makeup). Finally, if you use all natural makeup, beware that these products do have shorter shelf lives than suggested above because they lack the preservatives found in other types of cosmetics.

If you have a question you would like me to answer regarding beauty, health, or fashion, leave a comment or send an email to hautelunchinfo@gmail.com. I love to hear from you and am always happy to give advice to my wonderful readers!

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Ask Tara: How long will my perfume last?

One of my favorite bloggers, Couture Carrie, has claimed first dibs on the new "Ask Tara" section on Haute Lunch. She asked: How long can I keep a bottle of perfume before I have to toss it?


Great question, CC!  The short answer is 3-5 years, but the better answer is a little more complicated. First, you need to identify exactly what strength your fragrance is. This is important because each fragrance strength has a different essential oil (aromatic compounds) to alcohol ratio. Fragrances with more alcohol will have a longer shelf life because alcohol acts as a preservative.

• Parfum has the highest concentration of essential oils (approx. 20-30%) and the least amount of alcohol, which is why it is the most fragrant. However, this also means it has the shortest shelf life. Luckily, parfums are usually sold in smaller bottles. Expect your parfum to maintain its integrity for around 3 years.
• Eau de Parfum has the next highest concentration of essential oils (usually around 15%), and slightly more alcohol.  While this makes Eau de Parfum last longer (around 4 years), it also means it doesn't have as strong a scent, so you have to use slightly more.  I prefer Eau de parfums because of the balance between strength, cost, and shelf life.
• The weakest concentration of essential oils (approx. 10%) can be found in Eau de Toilettes.  Since these fragrances have the highest alcohol content, they last the longest (5+ years).  However, most people go through Eau de Toilettes quickly because they spray more on to make up for the weaker concentration of fragrance.

Of course, this still isn't the whole story. The profile of your fragrance can also play a role in it's shelf life. Typically, oriental and woodsy fragrances hold up longer than lighter, citrus based fragrances. How you store your perfume makes a difference as well. To ensure the longest shelf life, always keep the lid on your perfume bottles when not in use and store your perfume in a cool, dry place away from sunlight (a closet is often ideal). Keep in mind, your perfume will never "go bad," but after a certain amount of time, it will lose the characteristics and strength present when you first purchased it.

This concludes the first installation of "Ask Tara." Thanks again to CC for the excellent question!  If you have a question you would like answered, please feel free to leave a comment or email me at hautelunchinfo@gmail.com. I love to hear from my readers and help out my online friends!

Want to know more ways to get the most out of your perfume?  Check out my previous post: How to Properly Apply Perfume!

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Got Questions? Haute Lunch has Answers!

Good Morning, Gorgeous!  Not sure how to pick out perfume?  Don't know what style of sunglasses look best for your face shape?  Want to know what you can eat to help your hair be shiny and strong?  If so, Haute Lunch can help!  From time to time, I will be answering readers questions, so contact me now at hautelunchinfo@gmail.com!  I'd love to hear from you and find out what questions you have regarding beauty, fashion, health, or other related topics!  Thanks and have a fabulous day!


Also, don't forget that my Lancome "All About Eyes" Giveaway ends in just one week!  Enter now for your chance to win!

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