How long has it been since you gave your makeup bag a thorough clean out? Has it been a few months, or even years maybe? If the answer is yes, there’s a good chance that most of your products have expired.
Makeup artist Jamie Greenberg says to make sure the cosmetics you apply are safe and effective, use your senses. “You need to smell your makeup. If something’s off, your nose knows and that means it’s time to toss them away.”
You need to store your makeup in the right place to make it last longer. You speed up the process is by storing your makeup in the worst possible place, your bathroom! Heat and humidity are the natural enemy of your cosmetics, and if your bathroom stays particularly humid, your products may go bad even sooner. That said, regardless of how long things are supposed to last, keep in mind that if anything is discolored, has a strange odor or has developed a film or coating, throw it away immediately!
Eyeliner: 6 months to 1 year
Gel eyeliner only lasts six to eight months because you’re constantly double-dipping a brush into a pot. A pencil, on the other hand, has a shelf life of one year. Liquid liner is used near your eyes, so it can be a breeding ground for scary eye irritants and bacteria. Don’t keep it around for longer than three months, either. Pencil versions of eyeliner last much longer than their liquid counterparts because sharpening gets rid of the gunk that can cause bacteria to grow. Throw the old one and order new one online with Nykaa, Amazon, Shopclues and many more online stores.
Mascara: 3-6 months
Mascara has a shorter shelf life than most of your other beauty products, and because you use it on your oh-so-easy-to-irritate eyes, it’s super important to throw it away in due time. Why? Because bacteria is easily transferred between your eyes and the tube. So after two or three months, toss it and pick up a new one. Or, if it starts getting clumpy and stiff sooner than that, throw it away immediately.
Blush, eye shadow, and other powder cosmetics: 1-2 years
Powder lasts longer and are more resilient than some other cosmetics and will typically last you two years, without any problems. To maximize their longevity to the fullest, keep your makeup brushes clean.
Foundation: 6 months to 2 years
Foundation packaged in a pot expires in about 6 months, whereas a pump formula can last one to two years. When your foundation expires, look at it as an opportunity to try something new. Since these liquid makeups are water-based, bacteria love them, which means using them past their prime can cause major breakouts. Most should last anywhere from six months to a year, by which time, if it’s your daily makeup, you’ll likely have used it up anyway.
Lipstick: 2 years
Change in color, texture or smell are all big warning signs that your lipstick has expired. The good news about lipsticks is that they stay good for roughly two years—as you can see, that’s an eternity in the makeup world! You should only keep lip gloss around for half as long. After a year, there’s a much bigger chance of bacteria developing. Oh, and if you use either while you’re sick, you should probably ditch it, as you almost definitely left germs behind.
Natural products: 3-6 months
Think of your natural, preservative-free cosmetics as food, when kept in your refrigerator they’ll last a little longer, but the natural stuff is going to go way quicker.
Nail Polish: 1-2 years
Unlike all your other makeup, bacteria can’t grow inside nail polish, which means it is safe to use for much longer. Keep enjoying your favorite shade until it gets thick or separates to the point that it doesn’t mix back up when you shake it.
These were the tips to help you understand when your makeup kit is due to expire and how you can make out when your makeups time is done. So next time your make up feels or smells weird it’s time you threw it away!