does make up expire?
- Thread starter janie1234
- Start date
Dela
Cathlete
I keep powder makeup and pencils/liners longer than that. My foundation is taking a long time to use up, but it's in a pump so I guess it has less exposure to germs from my hands getting in it. The pencils, if they are older, I just break the tip, then sharpen it to freshen it up. If anything ever gets that weird makeup smell (that I remember from my grandmothers makeup table) I throw it out immediately. And mascaras I will not keep for more than a few months. Oh yeah, lip gloss, I am guilty of keeping too long, and usually throw those out if I notice separation or the texture or color has changed.
But in reality, once I get sick of something, I rarely go back to it anyway, but keep it out of some strange guilt over throwing perfectly good things away, then once it gets real old, I feel better when I toss it.
There are some guidelines out there as to official recommendations on makeup life. I'm sure I have heard this discussed on tv shows and read in magazines.
But in reality, once I get sick of something, I rarely go back to it anyway, but keep it out of some strange guilt over throwing perfectly good things away, then once it gets real old, I feel better when I toss it.
There are some guidelines out there as to official recommendations on makeup life. I'm sure I have heard this discussed on tv shows and read in magazines.
ellesan
Cathlete
from about.com article:
Concealer Up to 12 months.
Powder 2 years.
Cream & gel cleansers 1 year.
Pencil eye liner Should be sharpened regularly. Will last up to 3 years.
Eyeshadow Will also last up to 3 years. Extra tip: A dark eyeshadow can double as eyeliner, in fact, most makeup artists swear by eyeshadow used as eyeliner. You'll need a super-flat eyeliner brush for this (MAC, Sephora and Aveda have great brushes). Get the brush a little damp and dab in dark eyeshadow (black, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Wiggle the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, then sweep the color just above your lash line.
Brushes Wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent.
Sponges Wash weekly and discard monthly.
Foundation Check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter. Extra tip: If your water-based foundation dries out before it's expiration date, simply add a few drops of alcohol-free toner and shake to mix it in. No need to do this to oil-based foundations. Because they contain oil, they will tend to separate. You have to shake anyway.
Lip liner Up to 3 years. Extra tip: Skip the push-up lipliners. They're expensive, tend to break and you never really know how much you have left until you run out. No need to spend money on lip liners, there's no secret to greatness for this product. Save your money for powders and foundation.
Lipstick Some experts say 1-2 years. Others say up to 4 years. What everyone agrees on is that if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. Extra tip: If you store lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer. Bonus tip: Want your lipstick to last longer during the day? Shade in lips with lip liner before applying lipstick.
Mascara This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in and out -- you're only exposing the product to drying air.
Nail Polish Up to 12 months, depending on the quality and how many times you take it on a plane (the cap always unscrews on me during flights, leaving my purse a -- fume-y -mess)
Concealer Up to 12 months.
Powder 2 years.
Cream & gel cleansers 1 year.
Pencil eye liner Should be sharpened regularly. Will last up to 3 years.
Eyeshadow Will also last up to 3 years. Extra tip: A dark eyeshadow can double as eyeliner, in fact, most makeup artists swear by eyeshadow used as eyeliner. You'll need a super-flat eyeliner brush for this (MAC, Sephora and Aveda have great brushes). Get the brush a little damp and dab in dark eyeshadow (black, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Wiggle the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, then sweep the color just above your lash line.
Brushes Wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent.
Sponges Wash weekly and discard monthly.
Foundation Check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter. Extra tip: If your water-based foundation dries out before it's expiration date, simply add a few drops of alcohol-free toner and shake to mix it in. No need to do this to oil-based foundations. Because they contain oil, they will tend to separate. You have to shake anyway.
Lip liner Up to 3 years. Extra tip: Skip the push-up lipliners. They're expensive, tend to break and you never really know how much you have left until you run out. No need to spend money on lip liners, there's no secret to greatness for this product. Save your money for powders and foundation.
Lipstick Some experts say 1-2 years. Others say up to 4 years. What everyone agrees on is that if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. Extra tip: If you store lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer. Bonus tip: Want your lipstick to last longer during the day? Shade in lips with lip liner before applying lipstick.
Mascara This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in and out -- you're only exposing the product to drying air.
Nail Polish Up to 12 months, depending on the quality and how many times you take it on a plane (the cap always unscrews on me during flights, leaving my purse a -- fume-y -mess)
janie1234
Cathlete
Yeah, . .geez Sandra where did you get all that info?? Thanks!! I did not know half of what you said.
Tricia, . .. I wear makeup once in a blue moon in other words never (unless you count chapstick). Call it a mid life crisis or something but I've started to notice more wrinkles, . . esp on my hands. I'm starting to show my age, . . darn it.
I have some Lola cosmetics that I bought from Sephora about 2-3 years ago??? Maybe longer that I bought when I was going through my "red" lip phase. They are barely used but they are old. I never use mascara because I wear contacts and it bugs my eyes. I didn't know if I should toss them.
syzygy314
Cathlete
I know it sounds weird, Janie, but I always would smell my makeup. It does tend to change over time. It also dries up especially things like lipstick and liquid foundation. Powdered makeup seems to last much longer to me. I don't know though. I bought some Bare Minerals back when my DH graduated from college in 2007 and I still use it on rare occasions! I don't wear much color, just some bronze powder for my cheeks and no eyeshadow or mascara anymore! I don't have any lashes left for it! LOL!
I prefer the natural look!
I prefer the natural look!
janie1234
Cathlete
Trust me I do too!! Natural gals unite!!! We should form a club.
Ha!By the way I always for some strange reason smell everything, . . I'm weird that way. Before I pour milk I smell it, . . .and I smell my make up too. That is where I was stumped because it doesn't smell but I KNOW that they are old.
isuretri
Cathlete
That was some wonderful advice!!! I used to be a Mary Kay consultant so I lean towards if its over a year, toss it. Except mascara, that needs to be tossed every 4-6 months. I do have some lipsticks that are older but they tend to not be the same after they are old.
I actually was planning on going through all my makeup tomorrow to throw away stuff so this came in handy!! How funny!!! I have WAY TOO much makeup! I think 5 or 6 cosmetic bags full. Guess I need to just stick to the ones I use the most! If it wasn't for makeup, hair and fitness, I'd be rich!!!!! ha ha
I actually was planning on going through all my makeup tomorrow to throw away stuff so this came in handy!! How funny!!! I have WAY TOO much makeup! I think 5 or 6 cosmetic bags full. Guess I need to just stick to the ones I use the most! If it wasn't for makeup, hair and fitness, I'd be rich!!!!! ha ha
kathryn
Cathlete
I think one reason most makeup goes 'bad' is that skin oils and bacteria get in it (also on makeup brushes). Anything you'd dip your fingers into (liquids or creams) would go bad faster than a powder (though I'm pretty sure mineral powder makeup is good for a long, long time).
Anything that has oil in would also go rancid after a time.
Anything that has oil in would also go rancid after a time.