Sometimes I can imagine little bits of germies and bacteria crawling all over me. Then I realize that that’s completely weirdo OCD and banish the thoughts from my mind. Apparently the desire to be sane overrules the desire to obsess over germies.

While mind control is important to any endeavor, so is basic sanitation. Mind control can’t actually stop an eye infection from your nasty mascara. Here’s a few basic tips for a clean makeup kit:

-Wash your brushes. When they start getting stiff, that’s not just product build-up in there. That’s bacteria. If you’ve been breaking out, especially in areas where you use the brushes, that’s probably why. Use shampoo and warm water for natural bristles and something a little stiffer like dish detergent for synthetic bristles if need be.

-Wash your grimy hands before putting on makeup. From touching other people and places to pets and the potty, you definitely don’t want to bring the mix to your face.

-Buy new mascara every month even if the one you have hasn’t gotten chunky yet. Drug store mascara matches up to any premium brand, so you don’t have to spend a lot to achieve good sanitation.

-Sharpen your pencils before every use, especially if you’ve lost or broken the cap. This will help you get a great point, and also remove whatever’s on the outside. This includes the gunk that was in your eye yesterday and any dirt build-up on the pencil cap.

-Periodically clean the makeup bag itself. Just throw it in the washing machine or dishwasher, depending on what it’s made of.

-If you’re using a friend’s product, be courteous and don’t use the applicator directly on yourself. Put it instead on the back of your clean hand or some kind of palette type surface.

-Most makeup should be tossed in a year. Powders can last the longest at 3-5 years, and gels and liquid liners the shortest at 3-6 months.