Cleaning your kit is extremely important for makeup artists. When working with different people, it’s imperative to make sure your kit is sanitary because you cannot risk spreading germs. Cleaning your kit will also extend the life of your makeup and it will last longer if you take care of it.

Using your kit in a sanitary manner is worth taking that extra step. When using liquid foundations or blushes, pump or pour the product out onto a palette or the back of your hand. When using creams, don’t double dip your foundation or eyeliner brushes; use a spatula to transfer it to a palette. This will keep bacteria out of your products, and will make mixing shades a breeze. You should not double dip into cream eyeliners, you can take some product out with a spatula or the back of your brush and put it on your hand and double dip from there. This will make your cream eyeliner last until it dries out, and will keep bacteria at bay. Powders are fine to double dip with because bacteria doesn’t grow on dry surfaces. Eye liners and lip liners should be sharpened in between each use to prevent spreading infections.  When using mascaras, use disposable mascara wands. If you plan on giving your mascara to the client, you can use it straight from the tube. Lipsticks can be used straight from the tube as long as you clean it between each client with alcohol. An easier way to work with lipstick is to scrape some off onto the back of your hand and double dip from there, if you need to. Squeeze tube lip glosses are the easiest for sanitary use because you can just squeeze some out onto the back of your hand. If you prefer certain shades of lip gloss that have a wand, use the wand to apply the amount of product on the back of your hand or palette, and just use a lip brush to apply it.

With all of that said, here’s how to actually clean your kit. I like to do this once a month for peace of mind. I clean powders just as a precaution because I’m neurotic and sanitary. Fill up a small spray bottle with 71% alcohol and just spray your powders from a distance. You don’t want to drown them in alcohol; you just want the surface to be lightly sprayed. Don’t worry about the powders staying wet, the alcohol dries out; just give it a few minutes to dry up. I do this with powder foundations, eyeshadows, and blushes. For creams, I recommend spraying the surface with alcohol to kill the bacteria, and then use a tissue to wipe off the surface layer of any dirt or brush hairs. I do this to cream foundations, concealers, cream eyeshadows, and cream eyeliners. Anything using a pump will be sanitary because product is only coming out and not going in.  Sharpen all of your pencils to remove any bacteria. Mark your mascaras with the date that they were opened so than you can throw them out after around 3-6 months. If you keep your mascaras clean, they will last longer. Dip your lipsticks in alcohol and use a tissue to wipe off the surface layer.