Avoiding Infections With Mineral Makeup | The Healthy Beauty Project -by Todra Payne

Waterless beauty products (such as powdered mineral foundations) don’t provide the same cozy environment for bacteria growth the same way, say, your face cream does.

However, bacteria (“normal flora”), transferred from your body to your makeup brushes and back into your jar can cause skin irritations and other problems if you’re not careful. Here are a few ways to make sure you’re not giving bacteria great living conditions in your makeup bag.

1. Clean your brushes regularly. This is said frequently by professionals in the beauty industry, but it’s not always taken seriously by consumers. Although you can’t completely stop the transfer of bacteria from the skin back to your mineral makeup jar, you can lessen the multiplication of bacteria by regularly cleansing brushes.

2. Don’t share your mineral makeup. We learn this as a teenager, but often think it doesn’t apply to mineral makeup because it’s powder and we’re simply “shaking out a sample.” Your friend’s brush doesn’t have to touch your powder in order for germs to spread. They’re already in the powder from your use. Most online mineral brands provide clean samples in small plastic bags for minimal cost. This is the best way to test different shades.

3. Don’t keep your makeup indefinitely. Even mineral makeup (especially ones with minimal preservatives) has a shelf life. Ask the manufacturer when you purchase your jar how long you should keep it. And heed what she says.

4. Don’t store your mineral makeup in the bathroom. Most women apply their makeup in the bathroom mirror because of convenience. But the warm, steamy environment in bathrooms are perfect breeding ground for germs. There’s also the issue of airborne intestinal flora in the bathroom. Yuck. Find a mirror in another part of the house to apply your makeup. And free up the bathroom for the next family member.