It's the most wonderful time of the year... spring cleaning! And we don't mean just revamping your room or taking on your closet. Your beauty stash needs to be refreshed, too! From cleaning brushes to tossing old products, we've got you covered on how to tackle the black hole that is your beauty bag.
1. The bag
Hopefully your bag is equipped with a waterproof liner—if not, toss your old one and try something like this one from Lolo ($48). A waterproof interior makes it easy for you to turn it inside out and scrub down with soap and water; plus, it'll dry quickly!
2. Toss old makeup
Expired makeup can cause breakouts and even infections, so lose old products to make room for fresh, new cosmetics (hello, Sephora shopping spree)! Pay attention to your mascara—every time you take out the brush, it picks up bacteria... yuck! Replace your mascara every 2 to 3 months; sooner if the product causes any irritation, or if it starts to have a strange gasoline-like smell. Foundation and concealer are typically water-based, which means once they're open, they're breeding grounds for bacteria. They should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, or once the odor or color start to change—you don't want them to start causing blemishes!
3. Clean your tools
Cleaning your beauty tools will extend their shelf life! You should be cleaning them regularly—about once a month—with a brush cleaner like this one from beautyblender ($16). Once your brushes start to fray, though, it may be time for a new set!
4. Organize
Keep your products clean and organized with a stackable makeup organizer (like this one from Container Store), or a cute, DIY version.
5. When in doubt, less is more
BB and CC cream were created for this exact reason! Why settle for a primer, moisturizer and foundation, when you could have three in one? Try Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ($8) or L'Oreal Visible Lift CC Cream ($13) and streamline your beauty routine!
How will you revamp your makeup routine this season?