Beauty To-Do List

Now we are being placed under various social restrictions, we are spending more time at home again. This is the perfect time to review, reassess, and reorganise our makeup and skincare collection.

Firstly, get round to washing those makeup brushes! Because they are used on the face, makeup brushes should be washed once a week to avoid introducing bacteria and dirt to our skin. This is particularly true for brushes which are used for wet makeup like concealer or foundation. During this period of reduced social interaction, make sure you give your brushes a thorough cleanse. They deserve it.

Next, collect up all of the sample sachets you have, and move them to a place where you will see them. Then you might actually remember to try them out! You can use this time to reassess your routine. Whether that be opening samples, or trying out products that have been sat untouched for weeks, now is a great time to make adjustments to your holy grail skincare and makeup. It’s the best time to try out new ingredients and see which ones suit your skin as, if an adverse reaction does take place, no one will see it and you can look after it properly at home. This is particularly useful with regards to trying new brands of fake tan.

Another essential but often overlooked element of self-care is to properly rotate your products. We need to be more vigilant with regards to how long products have been open because they can become infected with bacteria, dirt, and oil. On the back of every product is an icon which looks like an open compact and a number, which tells you how many months it can be left open safely before it could be compromised. Take time to sort through your collection and bin anything which could be doing you more harm than good.

It could also be a good time to repress any powders which have broken recently. It really is tragic when your favourite eyeshadow or highlighter smashes. Try to limit your losses and repress what you managed to keep inside the compact. The internet is full of tutorials of how to do this, with really promising results, and it will make them suitable for travel again, perfect for a post-Covid getaway.

Finally, whilst on the topic of YouTube tutorials, you could use this time to learn a new makeup skill. If cat-eye eyeliner is something you've always wanted to try but have never been able to do, or if you’d like to be able to glue your own false eyelashes on, then why not use this time to practice? You could go for a cut crease or a Kim K style contour- either way, there’s nothing like learning a new couldn't-go-without step.

Edited by Madeleine Gill