10 things you need to remove from your beauty bag

Keen to refresh your beauty game? Well, there’s just one thing holding you back: Your beauty bag (and all the excess cr*p it contains).
From dirty tissues to broken eyeshadow, these are the things you need to eject from your stash, stat…
1. Old foundation and concealer
Check the expiry date on these make-up must-haves. If it’s expired, throw it out. If it’s still going strong, but is for winter (lighter shade, fuller coverage), put it in a drawer to reconsider in June. The same goes for anything else you won’t be using for months at a time!
Image credit: minq.com/
2. Dried-up mascara
We all have that one dried-up mascara that we hold on to in the hopes we can one day make it work. The reality? Unless you have luck with this mascara-reviving trick, the time has come to say bye-bye. No excuses.
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3. Dirty sponges and brushes
… But don’t worry, they get to go back in. After you’ve washed them with a brush shampoo such as Manicare Cosmetic Brush Cleaner or Shu Uemura Brush Cleaner. Oh, and while you’re at it, set a reminder in your phone to wash them at least every three weeks in future. Trust me, the more you do it, the quicker and easier it gets.
4. Dirty tissues/blotting papers/face wipes
Unlike your sponges and brushes, these bad boys are going straight in the bin. To stop you hoarding them again, replenish your supply: Wet Ones ® Be Fresh Original Value Bulk Pack contains 80 wipes, which means you’ll basically never run out. #Winning!
Image credit: weheartthis.com/
5. Broken eyeshadow
How many times have you wiped shimmery eyeshadow off your moisturiser, contouring palette and/or toothbrush (the worst), only for it to magically spill inside your make-up bag once more? Don’t even get me started on the risk posed to your pristine party outfit. If you love the colour, filter the loose powder and broken bits into a screw lid container – try QVS 3 Travel Jars.
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6. Separated nail polish
Yes, it feels a bit funny to throw out half a bottle of nail polish – but if your go-to hue has separated and/or is starting to clump, it’s time to let it go. If you need a new signature colour, simply snap up one of these sexy summer shades. See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?
Image credit: dolcevanity.com/
7. Expired sunscreen
Chances are you’ve been stocking up on sunscreen over summer, but you should still check the expiry of your SPF every few weeks just to be safe. A lotion past its prime may have an unpleasant, grainy texture (making it super annoying to rub in) – not to mention put you at risk of serious sunburn.
Image credit: sleepybeauty01.blogspot.com/
8. Old toothbrush
How long has that back-up toothbrush really been there? Unless it has its own container, it’s probably been rolling around in your aforementioned loose make-up and dirty tissues for months. This isn’t just a hygiene issue, though – those frayed bristles aren’t exactly effective for cleaning your teeth, either. Get rid of it.
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9. Miscellaneous wrappers/rubbish
Tampon/pad wrappers, used skin care samples, lids from long-gone products, eyeliner pencil shavings, broken nail files – all of these have got to go. ‘Nuff said.
Photo credit: thebellainsider.blogspot.com/
10. Unused hotel amenities
I’m completely guilty of this one: Hoarding hotel amenities (particularly mini shampoo and conditioner sets) as if they’re precious gems. The reality? You’re unlikely to actually use them unless you go travelling again, so keep them in a separate draw to pilfer from when your next holiday comes around.
Image credit: beautyholicsanonymous.com/
When did you last clean out your beauty kit? Are you big on keeping it neat and tidy, or is your haul more haphazard?
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127 Member Comments
I cleaned my out recently :)
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I've just sorted through my makeup stash again and re-organised everything and didn't find any of those offending items so I've been pretty good over the past twelve months.
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Can't say I have any of the above in my bag at all! EVER!!
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Time to clear my makeup stash. I am sure to find a lot of unused expired stuff, and separated nail paints :(
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I need to wash my brushes. It's been too long.
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I finally cleaned out the hotel amenities - not from the handbag but the cosmetics drawer. I don’t even know why I took them...
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I know I know I know I know! It’s just so hard throwing away makeup!!!
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I don't have a "makeup bag" but I constantly clears things out from my makeup stash. I have to throw out mascaras quite often but I admit I hang on to powders (e.g. eye shadow) for ages. I did finally get rid of my limited edition Stila eye shadows though!
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Seriously though - who has used makeup tissues ect collected? That's really gross....
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The only thing here I'm guilty of is the make up expiry dates. Sometimes it's really hard to finish the product in the e.g. 12 months. If used with a sterile technique I'll keep it past it's use by date. Otherwise my makeup habit would be $$$$$$.
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I discard mascara after I've been using it for about three months for hygiene reasons, so I've never had to get rid of one that's dried up.
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This gave me a good laugh. It is time for me to go through all my skincare and make up goodies and try to downsize and throw out those old dried out mascaras!
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A lot of my items are very old, i think its time to chuck and go on a shopping spree
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Can you see my halo??? I haven't any of these offending items in my makeup bag!
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The only one I need to do is clean my make up brushes but that's about it everything else I'm all good there.
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Fair enough, though the article is really common sense
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I'm guilty of not washing my brushes often enough :(
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Used wipes. Big time.
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I need to remove Dirty tissues and face wipes for sure,.. Need to check my bag
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Eeek looks like a dirty makeup bag! I don't really carry one phew.
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Most of this is common sense, right??? Who keeps manky old tissues??? Ewww!!!
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I love saving the shower caps from the hotels. I never buy shower caps. I haven't for years. They are the best.
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But I love the hotel freebies :P My old mascara should probably go though...
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I try and clean out my beauty products regularly but my handbag is less often. I found 20 lipsticks in my bag last week.
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Too many hotel amenities is my weakness. I can't resist collecting the good ones and invariably end up with too many.
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