What’s stopping the bacteria fest from spilling over into your makeup bag?

    Whenever one of your girlfriends asks to borrow your red lipstick or liquid eyeliner in your makeup bag, we wouldn’t blame you if gave them the side-eye as if they’ve lost their mind. It’s not that we are against swapping beauty secrets, it’s just that we are absolutely against swapping any germs now that flu season is upon us.

    We’re pretty sure you’ve read or watched health news reports on the not-so-pretty side of the makeup counter. By the time the salesgirl has finished giving you a mini makeover, you’re likely to walk away with much more than a few new beauty products. So, what’s stopping the bacteria fest from spilling over into your makeup bag? Nothing at all. To stay healthy during flu season, we asked makeup artist and groomer Janis Marino and internist Beth Ricanati for their tips on how keep our beauty products, brushes and bags germ-free.

    Ninety-nine percent alcohol, hand sanitizer and antibacterial brush cleanser are always stocked in Marino’s kit. These essential makeup artist tools are ones that everyone should use to clean off the top of your lipsticks. Simply use a butter knife or Q-tip to scrape off the top layer of your lipstick. Then, dip the lipstick itself it in a small glass of alcohol. Place the tube of uncovered lipstick in the freezer overnight to kill bacteria, and it will be ready to use in the morning. A pencil sharpener is also handy as it’s the quickest and most efficient way to keep your brow, eye and lip pencils sanitized. Sharpening with each use also guarantees the added bonus of a fresh tip, according to Marino.

    When updating your makeup bag with your daily must-haves (or nighttime beauty needs), Ricanati recommends starting with a clean surface to transfer everything. Clean the bag thoroughly (inside and out) using anti-bacterial wipes or baby shampoo, allow to dry and replace the contents. If you use makeup brushes, be sure to wash them several times a month; at the very least, when they are visibly dirty.

    This is also the perfect time to take stock of what you actually use. There’s no point in keeping products that you don’t use, and this will lessen the likelihood of holding onto something too long, Ricanati noted. To minimize bacterial growth, store everything in a cool, dry place. But if something looks discolored, toss it!

    Marino prefers plastic over canvas cosmetic cases as powders and dyes latch on to the material, and start to look quite filthy. Plastic makeup bag can be easily cleaned with a cleansing wipe, making them look as new as when you first got them.