Avoid Contaminating Mineral Makeup

   Many of us have heard the claim that mineral makeup has an indefinate shelf-life.  This can be true for those mineral makeups, such as Affordable Mineral Makeup™, that only use inert minerals.  But introducing bateria to your mineral makeup can be done unintentionally.  You can help avoid this by doing a few simple things.

• Never touch your minerals in their container.  If you must use your fingers to apply, tap a small amount of the minerals onto something else (a plate, a pallate, etc).  Touching the minerals in the container and introduce oils from your hand into the mix, which may harbor bacteria.
• If you are applying your mineral makeup wet, then again tap a small amount onto something else.  Then either wet your brush and dip into this small amount or mix a small amount of water into it.  Do not add wet minerals back into the same container.  If you have tapped out too much and already touched your wet brush to the minerals, you can put these minerals in a seperate container (Affordable Mineral Makeup™ offers empty jars that work good for this purpose).
• Clean your brushes regularly!  Dirty brushes can contain oils and dirt from your skin, and are great places for nasty bacteria to hide. 

Cleaning Makeup Brushes

When it comes to applying makeup, using clean brushes is very important. Dead skin cells and oils from your skin clinging to the bristles, along with makeup build-up, can shorten the life of your brushes. Dirty brushes can also harbor bacteria.

You can easily and inexpensively clean your brushes.

1. Dampen the bristles with warm water.
2. Add 1-2 drops of baby shampoo or a gentle facial cleanser. Work into a later.
3. Rinse the bristles thoroughly with warm water.
4. Blot with a towel and shape the bristles into their original shape.
5. Lay flat on towel and allow to air-dry.

Please remember to keep your brushes flat when cleaning them. Never point the handle down. Doing so can cause the water to loosen the glue on the handle.