It's Probably Time to Toss It

When was the last time you cleaned out your make-up drawer? Be honest. Six months ago? Sometime last year? It’s probably a good idea to go through your stuff and throw some of it out. Make-up doesn’t last forever.

To get maximum longevity from your cosmetics, store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Always close the lids tightly after use. Here are some common cosmetics and the recommended shelf life for each after it has been opened for the first time. These recommendations apply to conventional cosmetics, though some natural cosmetics may not last as long.

• Mascara: Toss your mascara after 3 months. Mascara has the shortest life span of all make up because the risk of transferring bacteria back and forth from your eye into the mascara tube is so great. If your mascara starts to dry out before its 90 days is up, throw it away. Don’t add water or saliva to your mascara to rewet it. Doing so will only increase your chances of getting an eye infection.

•Eye pencils: Eye pencils can be kept up to 2 years. To make sure you’re using a clean tip, sharpen before each application.

•Eye shadows: Powder shadows will keep 2 years.
If you’ve had an eye infection, you’ll need to throw out all the eye make-up and applicators you used from the time you developed symptoms. The virus or bacteria that caused the infection has probably taken up residence in your make up, so using those cosmetics again could cause you to develop another infection.

•Lipsticks: You can keep conventional tube lipsticks and lip pencils for 2 years. As with eye pencils, sharpen your lip pencils before each use. Natural lipsticks should be discarded after one year.

•Blushes and powders: Discard your powder blushes and powders after 2 years.

Think of your make-up a bit like you do your food. If it smells weird, develops a film, or has a mold-green tint to it, it’s gone bad and needs to be tossed out.

Using clean brushes and sponges will help lengthen the life of your cosmetics. Be sure and wash or replace your applicators frequently. See our November 8, 2012 blog post about proper care of your cosmetic brushes.

Here’s a tip: when you open a cosmetic for the first time, write the date on the product. It will help you keep track of how long you’ve had the make up so you’ll know when it’s time to throw it away.

Okay, no more excuses. Take an hour out of your weekend to go through that make-up drawer and the make-up in your purse. Not only is it healthy, but then you can make room for more stuff!!