And just like that, we’ve arrived a quarter of the year into spring meaning an inevitable spring cleaning day is approaching. With lockdown and mask mandates coming to a close, many of us are beginning to leave the house again and doing so with a bare face. As time has passed, many of your products such as lipstick and foundation may have gone untouched. For this spring cleaning day, we are going over the basics of your beauty supplies to keep your space and face looking their best.
When it comes to hair products, a smart rule of thumb is to only keep as many for in-shower usage as your bathroom storage will allow without getting crowded. The shower is often the only area where we genuinely get to enjoy "me-time," keeping your system basic can help make showers enjoyable and focused on self-care. Most shampoos and conditioners have an expiration date printed on the bottom or side of the bottle, so double-check that they're still good before keeping any half-empty bottles.
When it comes to hair sprays, dry shampoos, serums, and other after-shower products, pay attention to how often you use them. Instead of stocking your bathroom cabinet with a range of products, look for versatile items that may be used on a daily basis. Consider your requirements and seek for items that will improve your hair in several ways. Finding a volumizing spray that also acts as a heat protectant, for example, can make life a lot easier than having to use and store two different products. Again, check for those expiration dates.
Smaller cosmetic accessories, such as bobby pins, hair ties, and clips, can be kept organized in a catch-all dish or a designated space in a makeup organizer. Makeup organizers are an excellent way to keep your cosmetics from overflowing. This can also be a fun DIY opportunity, get creative, the goal is a container with compartments to hold your stuff! Take the time to go through each of your products and decide if you need them, if you do not use them, throw them away. There is a lot of research that shows a link between clutter and negative effects including:
A spring cleaning day, and cleaning in general, is shown to have the exact opposite effect that clutter does. Starting small by setting a timer for 15 to 30 minutes is a great place to start if cleaning everything feels overwhelming. When you get to a point where you are left with only the beauty supplies you need, it's time to clean some of the things you might forget:
These are so important, often overlooked and can easily lead to unwanted acne. It is recommended that you wash your makeup brushes weekly. To do this: wet the bristles with lukewarm water, place a drop of your cleanser of choice into the palm of your clean hand, gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm rinse the bristles thoroughly and squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel.
Remove any mascara buildup with a cotton swab and nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol. It could also be time to change the rubber pad in your curler to ensure that it continues to curl to its full potential.
To loosen and pull hair and debris lodged between the brush bristles, use the straight end of a rattail comb or a pen. The brush should then be washed with shampoo and water and dried upside down on a towel before being used again.
Tweezers can get dull with repeated usage. If this happens, fine-tune the edges using a fingernail file or sandpaper. Then, to get rid of bacteria, wipe down your tweezers with a cleaning solution like rubbing alcohol.
Scorched hair product causes the black sludge that forms on heat styling appliances like your curling iron or flat iron. Wipe away the filth with alcohol, baking soda, or acetone while the instruments are securely turned off and disconnected. Scrubbing too hard might harm the finish on your iron, so be careful.
When your hair dryer cuts out on you, you know it's time to clean it thoroughly. After disconnecting it, clean the vent at the rear of the device with a toothbrush. To dislodge the lint within your dryer, screw off the vent(s) or open the unit, depending on the model. Your hair dryer should work like new once you've reassembled it.
Any makeup bag should have a pencil sharpener. Unscrew the body to reach the razor inside and sharpen a dull blade. After that, rub it against a whetstone (or any knife sharpener).
If the brush on your mascara wand gets clogged, spray it with alcohol and wipe it clean with a paper towel. Then, before putting the brush back in the tube, let it dry fully.
Pumice stones are commonly overlooked, but they, like all of your other beauty equipment, require cleaning. Scrub a pumice stone with a dry brush, soap and hot water to remove dead skin.
A spring cleaning day has so many advantages. Though it could sound like a chore, it is sure to reduce your stress and keep you looking and feeling your best.
Written by Kiana St. Onge
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