Dirty Secret

Alright gals, I know your dirty little secret.  Do you ever get nagging patches of acne around your mouth, on your cheeks or side of your face?  Odds are your own hygiene is to blame.   Here’s your guide to clean up your act and shed your dirty secret.

·         Wash hands often, especially after using restroom, being in public, and before eating.  I’m going to start calling out every dirty girl as she leaves the restroom without washing her hands.  That is a big YUCK.  Just think of the bacteria you’re taking with you, and spreading to everyone else!

·         Always wash face before going to bed.  Lazy bones can use pre-moistened wipes and eye makeup remover, but please do it.  I learned from a great artist that sleeping in makeup can age your face 7 days.  Those add up if you’re a frequent offender.  Eye makeup can also flake off into your eyeball and cause irreversible damage.  A scratched cornea can lead to blindness. 

·         Brush off- Makeup brushes should be cleaned once a week with soap and water.  I prefer to use an anti-bacterial soap, but then, my brushes get a lot more use than most.  Agitate brushes in your hand, rinse until water runs clear, and wring excess water from bristles from base to tip.  Lay flat to dry.  Sponges should be cleaned the same way frequently, or invest in disposables. I always use the clean side of a latex sponge, and cut in half to be conservative.   

·         Bed bugs- and other ewww-inducing microbials feed off dead skin cells, hair and fibers.  Change bed linens frequently (once a week at least) and wash in hot water.  Change pillowcases every few days, especially if you sleep without showering or sweat at night.

·         Call me mom, but I will harp on good dental hygiene.   According to the ADA, toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months.  Wash hands before handling toothbrush, wash brush before and after each use (which consists of running under water and rubbing briskly with your thumb.)  Store brushes in a cup, never in a cabinet or cover, which can actually harbor bacteria.  Also deep clean brushes occasionally alone in the dishwasher.  Here’s another tidbit to make you think; fecal bacteria becomes airborne and can travel up to 6 feet. 

·         Sterilize frequently touched surfaces in your house with Lysol or such.  These include door knobs, phones, light switches, computer keyboards, gaming controllers and the such.

That’s all for now.  Until next time, be beautiful, inside and out!

-Micha