Ladies, are you guilty just like me of holding on to product? You may not even use it anymore or maybe you are holding out for the next time you will need a metallic gold eye. Please know, that just like the food in your pantry, your makeup goes bad after a while. Here is a helpful list of products and their “Shelf Life”.
PRODUCT – SHELF LIFE
Powders (blushes, bronzers, shadows) – 2 years
Pencil Eye Liner – 2 years
Lip Gloss – 18-24 months
Cream Compact Foundation – 18 months
Cream shadows and Blushes – 12-18 months
Concealer – 12-18 months
Oil Free Foundations – 1 year
Lipstick and Lip Liner – 1 year
Liquid or Gel Eye Liner – 3 months
Mascara – 3 months
Here are some other tips just to help out if you aren’t sure of the date you opened it or want to keep it just a little longer:
If it smells funky, it is time to toss it. Seriously, you are better safe than sorry here.Makeup sponges can be cleaned after a week of use, but should be tossed after two. (Eeeeek pretty sure I should toss mine…)Store them properly. Don’t leave them in your hot car! Room temp is optimal, but to stretch your lipsticks shelf life, you can store them in the fridge.Do not pump your mascara in and out of the tube. This pumps air into the product essentially breaking it down sooner.Sharpen your liners regularly. Both for the eyes and lips. If you sharpen them regularly it extends the life.Use a pinpoint permanent marker to write the date you open a product on the bottom. Then you will always be sure when you opened it.
I am guilty of keeping things in my makeup bag long after I should. Stop holding on ladies, it is better to replace it than to use something on your skin that is no longer good for it.