Listen up, you filthy animals!
I know a woman who keeps a pristine home and never has so much as a wrinkle in any outfit she wears (which often includes a major item that is bleach-on-bleach white). She will tell you proudly that she washes — and irons — her sheets every few days and always make sure to wipe down the kitchen counters before she leaves the area. But as clean and tidy as her home and wardrobe might be she’s got a deep, dirty secret: she has never washed her makeup brushes. Worse, she’s been known to try on makeup at beauty counters without doing a proper cleaning (and in case you are wondering, sharpening a lip liner or using a swab for lipstick doesn’t count).
If you’re starting to squirm, you’re not alone. A whopping 61% of women only clean their makeup brushes once a month or not at all, and only 12% of the women we polled said they cleaned the makeup with an alcohol solution before trying it on at the counter. If you can relate, stay tuned. We are about to break down some of the worst ways to get down and dirty while sharing the risks that come along with your bad behavior. Find a quiet and secluded spot and read along as we expose your secrets and share how to atone for your sins.
It’s written all over your face
From your lashes to your lips, one thing is certain: you’ve got it goin’ on. The question is: is what you’re using clean enough to go on your face? Let’s first discuss those makeup brushes you rarely wash. You know, the ones that collect dead skin, dust, and anything that sprays or spews near them? While you’re swiping caution to the wind, you’re also smearing bacteria all over your face. This behavior makes you prone to acne, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and that terrible muddy mix of color that makes you look older than you are.
Clean up your act: Pull out all of your brushes and do a thorough wash at least once a week. If doing it by hand, use a tiny bit of soap and water to wash the top part of the brush that touches your skin being sure to rinse it thoroughly and lay on a clean, flat towel to dry. For a more thorough or hands-free cleaning, check out this list of top products by Good Housekeeping.
You are an over-sharer
When friends come to my house, it’s me casa en su casa, but you’d better bring your own makeup bag. From pinkeye, staph infections and flat warts, to oral herpes, eye pencils, mascara wands, moist lip glosses and even eye shadows are prime real estate for bacteria and viruses, which can live on makeup for up to three days.
Right now, you’re likely thinking about those rushed visits to local beauty counters where you swiped unwashed lip liners and lipsticks to your mouth, thus practically kissing the millions of others who used them (the ones who licked their lips 100 times that day). Accept your sordid past and calm down. Take a deep breath and the secret to your grave, but from now on, be as selfish with your makeup as you would with your toothbrush.
Clean up your act: Make a commitment to share tips, not tools.
You have a mouth like a sailor… who never flossed.
I don’t know about you, but I love a good and solid Bette Davis-style “I’ll be damned” now and again (martini thrown against the wall for effect is optional). That said, even the bold Ms. Davis would be appalled at your filthy mouth.
When was the last time you flossed? If it’s been more than 24 hours, you’re nasty. Think of all those food particles just sitting in between your teeth, rotting, from then until now. You just swiped your mint toothpaste over the front and back of them as they sat there, causing bad breath and putting you at risk for a myriad of health problems including, an increased risk of cancer, low birth weight in newborn babies and sexual performance problems (men who don’t brush their teeth twice a day are nearly three times as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction).
If that wasn’t scary enough, listen to this: only 4 in 10 Americans floss daily and 20% never do. We are not alone in our bad habits; only 31% of Brits clean in-between their teeth. We’re practically engaging in a mosh pit of bacteria every time we kiss. Sexy.
Clean up your act: According to The American Dental Association, you should be brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes and using dental floss (or an interdental device) at least once daily.
You linger in your bath towel
Is there anything more glamorous than indulging in a steamy shower and then wrapping yourself in a big, gorgeous, Turkish towel? It depends. When is the last time you washed it? If the answer is more than three uses ago, well, congrats; you’re gross. And if you’re sharing towels, even with your sexy-so-and-so man, well, you know why you can’t sit with us. Stop wrapping yourself in bacteria and wiping your face where someone else wiped their you-know-what and get your load together.
Clean up your act: According the the experts at Real Simple, the best way to wash towels is to hang them up to dry before placing them in the laundry basket and washing them separately on a heavier cycle without fabric softener. If they are stiff or less absorbent, add a shot of vinegar every once in a while to remove built up detergent and body oils.
You workout in new yoga pants before washing them.
We’re going to assume that protective strip or no protective strip, you would never bring an unwashed bathing suit or piece of lingerie close to your body, but did you know that your athleisure picks can also carry human secretions? According to research performed by Dr. Philip Tierno, director of microbiology and immunology at New York University, a silk blouse tested positive for vaginal organisms and fecal matter—both of which can survive on a garment for weeks. That’s longer than most Tinder relationships!
Clean up your act: Since you can’t wash before you buy (or buy before you try), it’s a no-brainer solution to wear a thin layer of clothing under new items. Be sure to cover your armpits, as that area is also known to produce a high level of secretions. Yuck.
Here’s to better hygiene and a happier (healthier) you!
No Comments