The Cosmetic Drawer and Coronavirus - YouLookFab Forum

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The Cosmetic Drawer and Coronavirus

MsMaven

Veteran

What are you doing about your aging cosmetics and changes due to coronavirus? (I don't mean the cosmetics that age you!)

I remember that generally for our health and safety, we should replace mascara every 3 months, lipstick every 6 months. Isn't that right? I lined up my lipsticks. My favorite is several years old and the color is no longer available. I took a sample of each and lined them up on a white card.

Surprisingly, they are all very similar--a pink coral, except for the favorite, which is a little more orange. However on my lips they all look different. That Chanel I bought X years ago is too bright and dark, but it's Chanel, right? My Laura Mercier lipsticks I hoped would come close to my favorite--no good. I've only worn lipstick 2x in the last 7 months, and only for Zoom. So I bit the bullet and tossed them all.

I do have a new lip balm with a bit of color--but it looks odd. I've kept my lip pencils for now. I've had a worse time than usual with dry, chapped lips this year, no matter what I do. I wonder if wearing lipstick as well as other products would help. I have a half dozen different lip products. My dermatologist isn't too much help--her advice worked in the past but not this year.

Next is the mascara--I have 3 bought within the last year but I haven't tossed them. I think I should--I've only worn mascara a couple of times. And because of the virus, I'm not wearing my contacts, so why bother?

Not sure about eye shadow, foundation and face powder. Should I toss them all and wait until it's over?

How are you Fabber's dealing with this issue? We stay close to home--no dining out for us. Too risky at our age. No family get togethers either.

General

32 replies

Latest reply was from Joy

em

Powders generally last forever. Liquids I toss when the color changes and/or it starts to smell.

Anonymous

I replace my mascara and liner every 6 months- January and July. My powders are all mineral, so inorganic. In theory should last forever, but not sure about that! I have a liquid foundation from last winter that's separating- not sure if it should be tossed. It may be fine if I shake it hard.

I'm still wearing makeup but back to neutral eyeshadow. The magpie makeup I was so excited about early in the year...meh..too much. Keeping for now, but they're under my sink, not with my daily things. Ditto lipstick. Since I'm having to wear masks I don't use it, and when I've tried, it looks garish- even mlbb colors. No nailpolish anymore, not worth the bother.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t worry about powders. Lipsticks get a new surface every time I swipe them on my lips, so I don’t worry about them either. Mascara and possibly eyeliner are the only things I worry could potentially house an infection that could be harmful. I sharpen eyeliner pencils I haven’t used in a while, to get a new surface. Liquid eyeliners and mascara I replace every so often—I don’t wear them often, so when I’m planning to, I do a little test ahead of time. If they make me blink at all, they’re out. I wear coverup under my eyes regularly; if it starts to bother me, I replace it. My dad’s an eye doctor; growing up around his slides and other CME, there’s no way I want to mess with eye infections. I don’t see how Corona changes any of this.

MsMaven

Veteran

I didn't even think about nail polish. What's the point?

I use the tinted moisturize for a foundation--the Laura Mercier that has sunscreen. I'm trying to use the tube I bought a year ago and won't be buying another for now.

I haven't read anything about cosmetic companies suffering the way some retail and brands have, but now I wonder how these companies are doing, especially if we decide we don't really need them after all.

Anonymous

Maybe our bare faces are just fine as they are

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Suntiger, that is a very happy thought!
I use very little make-up: moisturizing lipstick so my lips don’t get chapped, concealer when my allergic circles are dark (I’ve had very suspicious/concerned co-workers ask me how I got my black eyes, because they don’t believe such dark circles could just show up) and often a light line of eyeliner, because the area looks weirdly uniform after the concealer. That’s it. Not quite a naked face, but pretty close.

MsMaven

Veteran

I hope we come out of this crisis with your attitude, suntiger! More and more I think we're fine the way we are. And for sure we're not fooling many people with our youthful make up.

Fashintern, I've never had an eye infection and I'm glad you brought up that that we don't want them anyway. Early on there were warnings not to wear contacts so as to minimize touching our fingers to our eyes, although we should already be very careful about that as we prepare to put in the lenses. And possibly wearing glasses can protect our eyes from airborne viruses. Is there any new information on glasses as protection that you know of?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m not aware of such information, but I wouldn’t be anyway; my dad is loving and smart, but has declined mentally so much that my mother has to explain to him about the virus repeatedly. He can’t remember it. Sorry; but I’m no help on current ophthalmic practices.

Anonymous

Not sure how Covid has any impact on cosmetics , but I’m always open to new scientific facts . I haven’t worn lipstick in months now because I wear a mask all day , but it hasn’t prompted me to throw any of them out . But now that you’ve got me thinking , it’s time for a makeup bag edit . I have a lot of it

ClaraT

Veteran

I wear minimal makeup and don’t worry about contamination. I don’t get breakouts (bacteria) and I’ve never had an eye infection (even with old mascara). If it dries out or I use it up—that’s when I toss it!

slim cat

Veteran

I wear natural make up and keep the powder the longest. Eye liners are either get used completely or dry out ( toss it ). I can't do mascara - sensitivity of my eyes.
Lipgloss and lip balm survives up to 18 month if I remember correctly.
It feels finally like something of the fall weather in CA - should probably do the edit of my clothes and make up.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Not sure how Covid affects makeup if at all but do agree some things should not be kept forever. Apart from eye related makeup, I go just use my instincts.

unfrumped

Veteran

I have certainly simplified things since retirement plus pandemic.
For going to work I did BB or tinted moisturizer, blush, eye makeup, and intermittent lipstick.
Now being out in the yard or outdoors most days, I wear lots of sunscreen, and for vanity, a bit of mascara. No foundations, blush or even tinted sunscreen is practical. A few exceptions for specific Zoom type meets but mostly not.
I have a collection of lipsticks because of trying deeper, richer colors for special occasions. But even prepandemic I was coming to realization that most of those don’t end up working for my lips and face- just not “authentic “ for me ( as opposed to one or 2 MLBB shades.
And now also not liking the feel of most of the tinted foundations( generic term for all over the face products) but would still use blush products.
Also kept buying different eyeliner pencils, which I liked experimenting with, like plum or green or blue, but have ultimately tend to now feel, what difference does that really make and I have my favorite actual product as to how it goes on, so who needs to try to juggle 10 -15 pencils. Also kept different types of mascara but now have narrowed down to one regular and one waterproof.
“ The drawer “ is real, as I can sit over the main makeup drawer and so decide, what should be in it? And I’ve been sort of re- defining it more as my face-care drawer as prime drawer real estate- like space in your closet - to easily store my different moisturizers and facial products and just the bare minimum makeup items.
I love drawer organizer compartment- y items and have always used them in my bathroom drawers. Many face products come in shapes or sizes that don’t fit ( or won’t all fit) in small or shallow drawers so I have downsized some into smaller containers so they all fit- even in small containers there is plenty for weeks without replenishing, and so convenient.

So I made a first- round edit a few months ago, both discarding some and moving some “ maybes “ to less prime area, but expect to make another edit. For example I made a point to use all my different eyeliner pencils and go, really? this one pulls/ crumbles/color doesn’t really show / has metallic or whatever- no bueno. It was the sunk costs that had me keeping them. And so on.

Might wait until spring or might get the cleaning bug mid- winter!

Anonymous

I love to toss and considering it may be a while I imagine I might want completely different products from completely different categories.

It seems unlikely to me that lipstick, any product with color, would be the best choice for dry lips, maybe try putting a plain balm at night?

Style Fan

Veteran

I don't wear foundation or anything for my complexion. I never did. My skin is too sensitive. I replace my mascara and eyeliner every few months. Eyeshadows and blushes are all powders, and I don't worry about those. I rarely wear lipstick, but I don't toss it unless it is dried out.

I do wash my make-up brushes weekly. I like them to be clean. I also have more than one of the most used eye brushes.

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't read the other responses yet, so I'll post first and then see how I compare.

I'm terrible about keeping to expiry dates. I keep my mascara about six months, or until the texture or smell start to change. My lash primer is probably a year old. But it doesn't smell or look off, and my eyes aren't bothered by it, so I figure it's OK.

Pressed powders and loose powders I pretty much keep forever.

Cream products, such as concealers or cream blushes, are subject to the same test as the mascara: if the texture if getting weird or the oils smell rancid, I toss it. Some products are made with oils that are very stable. I have owned some RMS Beauty products that lasted years (maybe five years?) before going off.

Lipstick is the same: check the smell and texture.

Lip pencils: I keep them forever.

I have only powder foundation at this point, so I can't advise on liquid. I would probably wait until the texture and smell changed.

I am probably a walking petri dish of bacteria at this point, I don't know!

Gigi

Veteran

Regarding the dry lips, have you ever tried the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask? I put it on every night in the winter. It is a must-have for me. It's more moisturizing than any other product I've tried.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I am not too sure about the business of needing to replace the mascara. I keep it a long time because I don’t wear it often, it is a “going out in the evening” thing for me, not a daily wear to work thing. And I have never got an eye infection from it. I am suspicious that it is just an encouragement to get us to keep buying. So I ditch it when I know it is very old (like a few years?) AND it doesn’t go on properly, clumps etc.
Is that caused by it drying out?
When I was going to NZ Fashion Weekend every year there would often be one in a goody bag anyway, but alas that was cancelled this year! So I have tossed two this year but still have one left. Must have acquired 3 over time. Since I wear it so little I kept the newest one.
Eyeshadow I can keep for years, wear it very little. Eyeliner I don’t do- I own some but should probably toss since any attempts to use it have never worked and have got worse as I age.
Blusher I do eventually use up but it takes a long time.
Lipstick I have 7. Lip gloss 3. Lip pencil 1.
Concealer 2- prefer the one that looks like a lipstick to the more liquid one.
Powder 2.
Some of my things are castoffs from a daughter! ( My current blusher, a powder)
I am kind of with Suntiger. I think my own face should be enough. I just like to “conceal” one small blemish and some broken veins. Blusher and lipstick are a decades old habit that even Covid hasn’t changed, since I drive to work without a mask. Mine is not a “drawer”, just a small organiser on the shelf in my wardrobe. You can tell from the small numbers that is all I need as far as space!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My makeup is mostly going unworn this year. I’ll wear a little for days when I go out for errands, or a Zoom call, but that’s about it. Still no socializing in our world, and for the last month my husband and I have been on the road camping, so the only stuff I wear on my face is tinted moisturizer with sunscreen and lip balm. Lots of lip balm.

I replace mascara when it starts to clump. I have a tube still in it’s packaging at home that maybe will get used next year. Lipsticks last a long time for me. Eye pencils seems fine until the texture changes (if they crumble when I sharpen them). Blush (cream in a stick form) lasts a while too. Eyeshadows? I have had some literally ten years. I don’t wear them much and as long as the texture is ok, I see no reason to pitch them.

I don’t have a terribly large makeup collection, and I tend to stick with a tight color palette and rarely change products, but I might do a clean out this winter.

Jane

Veteran

On the mascara - how do they smell? A new mascara smells different to the older ones and I tend to ditch after 6 months, mainly because I use it a lot.

I have found Revolution, a value brand has been super for me. It is in the store that I pass by most days on my commute, is inexpensive and so I tend to be relatively generous with myself. Even their 5 pack lipsticks which were just £5 for the five, have been super. Plus they are vegan and cruelty free.

I have a really good friend who was ill for a very long time and she basically watched make up you tube videos, so she is an absolute wealth of information, and even when I am buying small things, she is so so helpful. We spent a whole 5 hours one Saturday going through all of my make up and deciding what was needed. And that was my huge clear out moment. I was a huge Nars and Clarins fan, but I like this new brand is good for me. I wear make up every day.

Maybe it is time to move on and develop a fresh approach?

avicennia

Veteran

I’m no help here. I wear little make up to begin with and Covid has not changed my regime. A little makeup makes a big difference on zoom. Just BB, concealer, powder blush and lip pencil. I own one color of blush and one color of lip pencil and go with the same look day in and day out for all occasions.

Staysfit

Veteran

Since March my work has been 100% by video conference. I have more time to apply makeup, and wear it daily since I do not have a long commute. I have pared down my previously large cosmetics collection, only keeping colors I use regularly and tossing the rest. I have replaced frequently used items including foundation, concealer, blush, lipstick and my brow powder. I replace my mascara once a quarter. I currently prefer a natural look and have developed several variations that can allow for transition to a more formal occasion by altering the eye liner, depth of blush and rarely the depth of lip color. I used to vary my lip color more often but I have developed preference for one color and tend to use it consistently.

I am sorry your favorite lip color is not available anymore. So frustrating!

nemosmom

Veteran

I don’t wear much makeup these days. Mascara, eyeliner, brows, and lip balm are worn daily; I amp up my eyes if I go out in the world, then add concealer and blush if I have a lot of video calls.

I have my mascara on auto-ship, so a new one comes every 6mos. I spent 2 weeks in an eyepatch once, due to a corneal infection, so I am a stickler on mascara replacement. Eye pencils get wiped with an alcohol pad and sharpened when I wash my makeup brushes. Powder products I keep forever.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I have very few make-up items because make-up is not my thing. But I wear make-up daily because I like the definition and polish. COVID has not changed my habits other than no lipstick. As a result, I finish the cosmetics before they need to be tossed!

cat2

Veteran

I have been wearing about the same makeup, except for adding brighter lips and more highlighter for Zoom. I just did my seasonal swap out with Autumn colors and tossed out a couple of tired summer palettes. I will keep everything else tucked away and continue using it, I apply almost everything with clean brushes and have never had any problems.

Beth0707

I am so unmotivated these days to put any makeup on. I try for concealer and mascara. Try to get my brows tinted every couple months, but mostly salons have been closed longer than they’ve been open. No lipstick at all— masks! Tonight my husband and I are having dinner (outside) with another couple for the first time since March ! My body is going to rebel to not be in leggings and flip flops !!

April

Veteran

I take a Sharpie and write the date I opened mascara and gel eyeliner right on the item.

It also helps to put these items on a recurring delivery schedule.

For liquid foundation, tubes are less susceptible to bacteria than any packaging where your fingers come in contact with the product.

LaPed

Veteran

Oddly, I don't think covid has changed my cosmetics habits much. I'm a minimal make-up user to begin with. Sunscreen (sometimes tinted), brow pomade, lip color sometimes. I do feel the combination of masks and general stress has been rough on my complexion, so maybe I've upped my concealer use compared to pre-covid.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Covid hasn't changed my makeup habits too much either.If I am leaving the house, or have a zoom meeting, I will put on make up. But, thanks for the reminder, I will go and tidy my make up bag right now. I only have a medium-size pouch, but some of the stuff is pretty old.

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