Throwing Away Old Makeup: Heeding Eye Doctors' Recommendations

How old is your eye makeup? When was the last time you bought new makeup brushes? Do you share your makeup with friends or family members?

It is very dangerous to ever share your makeup, especially eye makeup, with another person. It isn't just teenage girls who share their makeup, it might be a mother and daughter, sisters, or even the brother who is acting out. But there is never a good reason to share makeup, and it doesn't matter how close you are to the other person. Sharing makeup is a good way to foster eye infections.

There is a gold box on my dressing table filled with my makeup: mascara, eye liner, blush and an assortment of brushes and eye shadow. I hate to admit it, but those items have been in that box for over a year. They are well used and some containers are almost empty.

While I never share my makeup, I fail to follow the eye doctor's cardinal rule: toss your makeup every three or four months. I wonder why more eye makeup manufacturers don't get on this particular bandwagon. What a great way to get sales, encourage your customers to regularly dispose of their eye makeup, regardless of the fact most of the containers are practically full.

Aged eye makeup, a breeding ground for bacteria, is not the only culprit. Time to toss those makeup brushes or applicators. Can you clean a makeup brush, instead of throwing it away? It is best to check with the manufacturer to see if the materials can be sterilized. For the health of your eyes, take an inventory of your dressing table. See what makeup brushes and other applicators have outlived their life expectancy.

My makeup awakening came from a recent visit to the eye doctor. There I encountered information about the importance of discarding makeup and applicators every three or four months. I already knew it was important, I simply chose to ignore the information.

What struck a cord was the information about the brushes and applicators. Every year my mother gives me a few makeup brushes in my Christmas stocking. I thought it was a foolish purchase, as I clearly have a container on my makeup table with a selection of brushes. Why did she need to get me more? I hate accumulating "stuff". But, I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so I said nothing.

Good thing I kept my mouth shut. Because I realize she was giving me a subtle nudge, for the health of my eyes. Time to toss those old brushes and start using the new ones she has been giving me. And while I'm at it, time to get new makeup.