How Long to Hold on to Your Beloved Makeup and When to Go Your Seperate Ways

I'm sure most of us are aware that makeup has a shelf life but do you ever wonder how long you should hang onto different cosmetics before tossing them? I'm here to help. The shelf life of cosmetics is determined by a number of factors. They include what the product is composed of (Does it contain water? Is it a liquid, powder or cream?), how it is applied (Are you using a brush, sponge, your hands, or included applicator?) and other such factors.

 

We can give our makeup a longer shelf life by making sure to use properly cleaned applicators (see here for how to clean your brushes) and storing cosmetics in the right conditions. Makeup should not be stored in the bathroom. Though it is sometimes the most convenient and ideal place to store it since many of us get ready in this room of the house, the changing temperatures and moisture that linger in your bathroom creates the perfect conditions for bacteria growth.

WHEN TO THROW IT OUT:

 Blush/bronzer- cream or gel: Throw it out after 1 year.
After about a year, the cream or gel will start to turn and will end up with a white film over the top and hardened.

Blush/bronzer- Powder: Toss within 2 years.
Powdered blush and bronzer is the same as face powder. It can get a gross crust on top and should be thrown away.

 Concealer Liquid with a sponge applicator wand: Toss after 6 months.
Since you apply this type of concealer directly to your face with an applicator stored inside the tube, it is more likely to see bacteria growth. We all know the last thing we want is to actually make
breakouts worse while attempting to make them better. As liquid concealer ages, it becomes thick and chalky. If it gets a bad smell before your 6 months is up, toss it early.

Concealer stick or powder in a pan: Toss after a year.
Powder or stick are not too likely to collect bacteria if used with a clean brush. However, the ingredients will become less active and the concealer may not work as well anymore. Concealer sticks will start to shrivel and become cracked and hard.

Eye liner- gel, liquid, felt pen: Throw away after 6 months.
Since this is another liquid product being applied to your eyes, you will want to take extra care to keep it fresh and toss after 6 months. Liquid and gel eye liners also become dried out, clumpy and difficult to apply.

Eye liner- Pencil: Keep up to 1 year.
Eye liner pencil can keep longer than other eye liners because it gets frequent sharpening which wipes away most potentially harmful bacteria and keeps it fresh. If your pencil becomes hardened and difficult to apply but you haven't had it a year, toss it anyway.

Eye-shadow- cream: Toss after 1 year.
Cream eye shadow tends to become cakey and hard. You will want to toss it after about a year.

Eye shadow- powder: Keep up to 2 years.
Since eye shadow is typically applied with a clean brush rather than a tool stored inside it, it can keep longer. Like other powder formula cosmetics, powder eye shadow will also get a hard crust on it after a while.

Face Powder: Toss within 2 years.
Make sure to keep your powder dry and you shouldn't have an issue with bacteria and it can keep for two years. You will want to throw it out after that because the ingredients will start to change. Pressed powder will also get a discolored "Crust" or film on top. If this happens, you will want to get rid of it.

Foundation Liquid: Toss 6-12 months after opening.
Liquids tend to grow bacteria quite quickly especially if you are not using a fresh sponge or brush and you are touching your foundation bottle to your applicator. Makeup is past this time frame has a higher chance of having breakout causing bacteria in it.

 

Foundation Powder: Keep up to 2 years.

Lipstick: Toss after a year.
Lipstick will become hard and flakey as well as it's formula will change and cause it not to work as well. Also, always toss lip products after being sick or having cold sores around your mouth. You don't want to keep re-introducing yourself to those germs.

Lip gloss- squeeze tube: Keep up to 1 year.
A lip gloss from a squeeze tube can last longer than a lip gloss with a wand applicator because it is less likely to get bacteria inside the tube. It will start to get globby and streaky and still needs to be replaced after a while.

Lip gloss- tube with wand applicator: Toss after 6 months.
any cosmetic that is applied with an applicator that you store inside the product, has a relatively short shelf life. This is because bacteria love to grow on these things. Lip gloss will also become globby and streaky after a while. If it starts to smell funny or you have been sick, toss it even if it hasn't been six months.

 

Mascara: Toss after 2-3 months.
Obviously your eyes are really important and for that reason, any product used on your eyes should be given extra special attention. Bacteria growth in the tube from using a mascara wand can cause sties and conjunctivitis A.K.A Pink eye.

Makeup Brushes: 1-5 years
This number strongly depends on factors such as the quality of your brushes and how well they are cared for. You want to make sure you are cleaning your brushes at least once a week and always applying your makeup to freshly cleansed skin. See "How to Clean Your Brushes" for brush care tips.

Makeup sponges: up to 1 month
Cosmetics sponge applicators can be re-used for up to a month if properly cared for. Luckily, they are quite inexpensive so if you are prone to breakouts or just dislike cleaning the sponges, you can just throw them away and use a fresh one each time.