If you thought that keeping all of your make-up and brushes together in a cosmetic bag was an innocent thing to do, then you might be making some big mistakes.
According to Saffron Hughes, a make-up artist at FalseEyelashes.co.uk, where you choose to store your favourite products can have a major impact on their quality.
A number of factors could cause your make-up to go off or become riddled with bacteria - including the temperature and humidity of the room they're being stored in.
Here, Saffron shares some of the biggest Dos and Don's for items such as beauty blenders, lipstick and mascara...
Make-Up brushes
DO store your make-up brushes in a cool, dry environment. An ideal place would be in a drawer away from sunlight.
Always clean your make-up brushes thoroughly before the intended use, this is to remove any built-up dust.
DON’T store your make-up brushes in the bathroom as this can encourage mould to grow. The bristles of your brushes will attract steam, this will transpire and clog your pores on application.
Beauty blenders
DO store your beauty blenders away from dusty surfaces. A great hack is to purchase a soap dish to allow the beauty blender to fully dry but do this outside the bathroom. When dry, store them in ventilated pouches or boxes, as opposed to a makeup bag. This will allow the sponge to breathe.
DON’T leave your beauty blender in a dark place, especially when it’s wet. This will attract bacteria and allow mould to harbour.
Avoid the bathroom as the steam can condense on the surface. Never store them away when they’re wet and replace them every three to six months.
Lipstick
DO store your lipsticks in a cold, dry environment, such as the fridge.
Always ensure the lipstick is fully wound down and closed tight to preserve texture and colour.
DON’T place them anywhere near sunlight or humidity. Lipsticks can lose their texture and quality once they’ve been exposed to heat. If too soft, you will limit usage and melting can cause uneven pigments on application.
Mascara
DO store your mascara in a cool, airtight environment. Keep your mascara closed, any air that enters can dry the liquid up completely which will lead to clumps on application.
DON’T keep your mascara in the fridge, this can lead to bacteria build-up. Even after no use, replace the product every three to four months. Your eyes are prone to irritations or infections if mascara is incorrectly stored or expired
Powders
DO keep all your powder products in a dry place. A great tip is to store items such as blusher, eyeshadows and setting powder in a transparent plastic case. This is a perfect environment that will keep all products fresh and maintain high quality.
DON’T store them near any heat sources such as radiators or in bathrooms. The humidity can cause the powder to change texture resulting in a cakey and uneven finish.
Liquid foundation/concealer
DO store your liquid products in a dry place such as a drawer or even the fridge.
DON’T keep them near any heat sources, this can cause the liquid to separate.
Also, avoid leaving them near a window as the daylight can dry out the products.
Setting spray
DO store setting sprays in a cool environment. Ensure the lid is fully closed and placed up upright.
DON’T exceed the expiry date of setting sprays. Many people overlook this, as it can take a while to get through the bottle.
The product is applied to your entire face, if out of date this can cause a reaction to your skin. Don’t place setting sprays near any heat sources as this can reduce the effectiveness of holding your makeup on.