When it comes to skin care products and cosmetics, letting go can be tough. Finding quality merchandise that works well with your skin type is often a challenge, not to mention an investment. However, if those beloved cosmetics and skin care products are expired, they can be detrimental to delicate skin. The signs for aging products are likely familiar, and fairly easy to spot. Coagulation in lip-gloss or foundation, strong odors, and separation all indicate that it’s time to bid adieu to old cosmetics.
Aesthetically speaking, dated makeup can cause streaking and alter color. Old products can also pose more harmful threats like blemishes, skin irritation, and in extreme cases, infection. Many powders, eye shadows, and lip balms have a better shelf life due to their lack of water which wards off bacterial growth. Products that contain fatty acids like cleansers and moisturizers are tend to turn rancid more rapidly and eye care products like mascara and liquid eyeliner need to be treated with extra caution due to their vulnerability for bacteria.
Considering cosmetics aren’t required to have an expiration date on their packaging, purging old products can be a difficult chore to decipher. Knowing which products to toss when is less intimidating with the help of a basic outline. Below are helpful hints on preserving your collection of cosmetics and a guideline for expelling expired products.
Helpful hints
- - Be sure to keep your make-up in a cool, dry place.
- - Keep a sharpie at your make-up table and date the product once it’s opened.
- - Avoid keeping skin cleansers in the shower, and ideally avoid storing makeup in the bathroom altogether. Humidity can have damaging effects on both.
- - Close all containers and compacts after use.
- - Avoid using fingers or hands directly. Opt for a cotton swab, brush or makeup pad.
- - Sharpen eyeliner pencils after every use.
- - Keep in mind that natural cosmetics and skin care products have the potential to spoil faster due to a lack of preservatives.
Expiration Guidelines
- - Foundation: Six to 12 months
- - Concealer: One year
- - Powder: One to two years
- - Eye Shadow: Six months for cream, one to two years for powders
- - Eye Liner: Three months for liquid or gel liners, two years for a pencil
- - Mascara: Three to six months
- - Lipstick: Two years
- - Lip Liner: Two to three years
- - Skin Cleansers: One year
- - Moisturizers: One year
