Tips to stay fresh

• WASH and dry your hands thoroughly before putting your fingers into a product.
• AVOID reinfection. Stop using all eye makeup if you have an eye infection and lip products if you have a cold sore. The exceptions: lipsticks, lipliners, and eye pencils, which can be shaved with a knife or sharpener. (Just cleaning with a tissue won’t suffice.)
• SMELL your mascara when you first purchase it. If you recognize that scent, you’ll know when it goes bad: Expired mascara often takes on a funny, chemical odor.
• CHOOSE a cotton-tipped swab or disposable sponge to apply makeup to a pimple – and avoid double dipping. Going back and forth the product to the affected area with your finger or a sponge can lead to contamination.
• TRY writing the date of purchase on small cut up masking tape or colorful stick-on price tags to place on the bottles or tubs of your cosmetics to help you remember when you bought those products.
• BUY in small quantities. This way, you are sure to use them until their last. Opt to palettes when choosing shadow instead of getting full posts that you won’t be able to finish (unless used every day).