Over the years, I have accumulated a ton of makeup and naturally, some of it has climbed to the top of my Favorites and earned ‘deserted island’ status. That perfect peachy pink lipstick that goes with everything, that shimmery eye shadow that makes my tired eyes look awake and alert, that alluringly shiny nail polish that lasts on my nails for days! All amazing products that I somehow end up getting attached to (don’t judge, I know I have a problem!). No doubt beauty lovers out there can understand. The hardest part I’m realizing is knowing when to let go of these star status products, as quality makeup is an investment that often times comes with a hefty price tag as well.
Beauty lovers (okay hoarders) all over the world hear me out. This post is for all of us out there who love makeup a little too much. The harsh truth is that beauty products do have an expiration date. There comes a point in the life of a beauty product when the product has finished serving its intended purpose and we have to let it go. The product is past its prime and it’s no longer safe to use (might not work as it did initially or worse, it is now breeding ground for growing bacteria which can result in skin rashes, infections or breakouts). Most beauty products are not required by the FDA to display an expiration date on their packaging. Only products regulated as over-the-counter drugs, such as sunscreens, have official expiration dates. The average beauty product’s expiration date depends on when you first opened the product and started using it. Learning about the shelf life of beauty products has been a wakeup call for me and I’m hoping you find it as informative as I have. So let’s dive in and put our best faces forward, trashcan in hands!
Foundation ~ 1 year
Most liquid foundations are water-based which makes them more prone to bacteria and thus their shelf life is one of the shortest. Replace your foundation 12 months after opening or every 6 months if you notice a change in color or a funky scent. Powder and stick formulas can last up to 2 years. Tip: Keep foundation away from heat, humidity or high temperatures, as these environments can increase the risk for bacteria growth.
Concealer ~ 1 year
Liquid concealers should be tossed after 12 months. Powder and stick formulas can last for up to 2 years.
Powders ~ 2 years
This category includes face powders, powder bronzers, blushes and eye shadows. Most powders are made up of almost no water which means that nothing can really grow in these products and as such, their lives are the longest in the beauty world.
Cream Formulas ~ 1 year
Here we have cream bronzers, blushes and eye shadows. These should be tossed after 12 months or sooner if you notice a change in color or a different scent. To prolong the life of your cream products, make sure you tightly close the top back on and store in a dark, cool place.
Mascara ~ 3 months
The eye is a very sensitive area and can get infected very easily. Mascara is the one product that everyone cautions on and that has the shortest life in the beauty realm. As the brush is taken in and out of the tube, it brings with it any bacteria that has collected along the way. A mascara gone bad can cause irritation, redness or pink eye. Scary! Sometimes a distinct gasoline-like scent will give it away but usually, mascara should be replaced every 3 months. No excuses here. Tip: I purchase travel size mascara so that I have no choice, but to replace every 3 months.
Eyeliners ~ 6-12 months
Here we’re talking eyeliners and eye brow pencils. Liquid formula are good for 6 months and pencils can last for up to 1 year.
Lip products ~ 2 years
We’re talking lipsticks, lip glosses and lip liners. These products typically contain no water so the chance of the formula spoiling is low. The shelf life of these products is about 2 years. However, lipsticks and glosses contain oily ingredients that over time can start smelling like stale cooking oil. That would be an indication that the product needs to be replaced sooner.
Nail polish
This is the bullet-proof product of the makeup world: it doesn’t get affected by bacteria. That is not to say that it lasts forever. Eventually the pigments settle at the bottom of the bottle and the formula dries out or becomes thicker and clumpy. You can use thinners or add a little bit of nail polish remover to extend the life. Otherwise, toss.
A few more tips
If you’re applying a powder product over a liquid (say you’ve just applied your face moisturizer or a foundation and now you’re going in with your powder), the moisture and oils from the liquid product can transfer onto your makeup brush and end up on the powder product. This will eventually cause a greyish film to form on the powder product (mostly around the edges). To prevent this from happening, after applying foundation and moisturizer, wait a couple minutes before putting on a face powder, bronzer or blush. Since time is always of the essence for me (as a mom I’m always on my son’s napping schedule) and don’t have that much to waste, after I put on my foundation, I typically start working on my eye makeup before continuing with the powder, bronzer and blush.
Store your makeup products in a cabinet or drawer and never ever store any makeup product in the refrigerator or in direct sunlight.
This post was very informative. I will definitely try to replace my mascara when it’s time to let it go.
Mascara is definitely a hard one to let go of! I try to buy it in travel size so that I’m forced to replace after 3 months. ~ Cat
Oh man I need to purge! I am a “hoarder” and use products way too long! Thanks for this info now I need to clean out and buy new:)
I feel you. I feel like the biggest hoarder when it comes to makeup and beauty items. Sometimes I hold on to stuff just because the packaging is pretty and I like looking at it! The one thing I’m trying to be very vigilant about is mascara! Not worth taking a chance! ~ Cat
Wow this is very informative , i love this post. I just had to share it with a few of my friends. I had no idea mascara should not exceed 3 months , I usually try to hold on to it as long as I could . I’m definitely a make up hoarder , Cat it’s so hard to let go ! ?, but I see it’s important to know these things for health reasons . Okay time to clean out the makeup drawer . Thank you for helping me face my reality.
So glad you found the post informative! It really is scary how the beauty industry is not required to have expirations dates printed on packaging yet there can be some serious health implications if we use these products past their time. We have to be our own advocates and always do our own research. Thank you for reading the post! ~ Cat
Wow, I had no idea. My entire makeup bag needs to be thrown away!
I felt the same way! I think I will try to buy travel size whenever possible and use up what I already have before allowing myself to buy more of the same stuff. As tempting as that is! ~ Cat
Oh Cat now you have said it, I shall have to go through that makeup bag of mine ?. Very informative, love your post, well thought out and very useful to us hoarders “your tribe” ?. Well I guess that’s an excuse to make room for more ☺️. X
My strategy going forward will be to resist temptations and use up what I already have. If I don’t anticipate to be using a product any time soon, I’ll try to give it away before purchasing something new. It won’t be easy, but I’ll give it my best shot! Thanks so much for reading the post, Esnath! Hope you have a great rest of the week! ~ Cat