If there is one thing that we all have in common regardless of our careers, lifestyle habits and more, its that we’re all busy. From work obligations to family commitments, social lives, personal lives and more, it’s almost impossible to get everything we want to get done on the regular done. As a result, certain tasks tend to fall through the cracks. (Are you thinking about that closet clean out you’ve been meaning to do or that kitchen cabinet you’ve been swearing you’d organize? Me too.)
Speaking personally, I definitely don’t clean my makeup brushes as much as I should. This is something I’ve long known and have tried to be better about, but a recent study recently opened my eyes to the necessity of cleaning your makeup bag, too. While it seems common sense, a recent study by LOOKFANTASTIC Australia revealed that nearly 20 percent of individuals have never cleaned their makeup bags, and the jaw-dropping findings don’t stop there.
Featured Experts
- Ava Shamban, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, CA
Makeup Hygiene: 1 in 10 People Have Never Washed Their Makeup Brushes
Yep, you heard that right. LOOKFANTASTIC’s study found that 8 percent of makeup wearers have never washed their makeup brushes, 19 percent have never washed their makeup bag, 15 percent haven’t replaced their makeup sponges in over a year, and 53 percent of users uphold these behaviors despite applying makeup in public or shared locations.
While we can all agree that going a year without replacing or washing your makeup brushes and bags sounds unhygienic, Beverly Hills, CA dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD emphasizes that the habit is not only gross, but detrimental to your skin health. “Makeup bags and brushes get filled with grime and, when cultured, can grown out all kinds of bacteria, fungi and even mites. It’s a must to wash these products at least every month!”
