You may not want to part with your favorite tube of mascara, but we hate to inform you that it has the earliest expiration date when it comes to makeup. Mascara lasts around three to six months, and shouldn't be kept around for longer.
When cosmetics get older, they won't just break down and get clumpy; eye makeup will also start to harbor bacteria, especially when they're improperly stored. When you use expired mascaras, eye shadows, or eyeliners, the bacteria can come in contact with your eyes, causing irritation and even serious infections.
Mascara. It is recommended that Mascara gets discarded every 3 months as it comes in contact with the eyes. The constant opening and closing of the tube can cause bacteria build up and eye irritation or infection. Signs to look out for expired mascara are a strong smell and the mascara becomes dry and flaky.
But if you wonder how long an unopened mascara can last, open it. When an expired but unopened mascara is properly stored, it can still be good up to 2 years. If you open it and feel odd, however, you must not use it and throw it away. It is thick and gloppy or it has changed color.
This may put you at a greater risk for infection or irritation. Mascara is one place the Food and Drug Administration steps in with a hard line. The regulatory agency advises you to toss it after three months, as it's easily contaminated by bacteria, leading to a greater risk of eye infections.
Products like foundation, primer, blush, and eyeshadow can last for up to two years. Lipstick is typically good for one year after you've opened it. Eye makeup like mascara and liquid eyeliner should be replaced every three months.
Always toss your mascara six months after opening it. But throw it out even sooner if: It changes texture or smell. You've had an eye infection like a stye or pinkeye.
Generally, if properly stored in a cool, dry place, most unopened and completely sealed makeup should last for 2 to 3 years. With that said, creamier products that contain oils or butters, like cream concealers or liquid blushes, could turn earlier because oil can go rancid.
When to toss them: 3 months to 2 years
But let it go we must, along with other cosmetics, the FDA warns. Citing a veritable cornucopia of ick factors — bacteria, mold, and yeast —they note that manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase.
Your skin may react to product ingredients if they have reached their expiration date. This could lead to redness or irritation. If bacteria get into an open container or onto a brush, they can multiply rapidly and cause breakouts or other infections.
Eyeshadow – Powder eyeshadow formulas will last between 24-36 months. Cream eyeshadows will not last as long however, they usually will last anywhere from 6-12 months. RAL's eyeshadows have a PAO time of 24 months. Eyeliner – Eyeliner can last anywhere from 3 months, all the way to 24 months.
Beauty Keeper is a stylish, easy to use and handy app that tracks expiry dates of your beauty products, reminds you when it is time to replace them, and helps to determine production and best before dates encoded by manufacturer.
With the exception of powder formulas, foundations are water-based, which means bacteria love them. Unopened, foundation can last for a couple of years, but once the seal is broken, Hammer says, it's best to replace it after six to 12 months.
Many perfumes don't have a set expiry date and can last anywhere between 1-10 years. However, three to five years is often the average shelf life of a fragrance and most of Shay & Blue's fragrances will still perform for the length of time. According to experts, perfumes with heavier base notes will last the longest.
When stored under optimal conditions, unopened lipstick can last a long time. Optimal conditions entail a cool area free of sunlight and high temperatures. The refrigerator is a perfect place. As a rule, makeup experts recommend tossing used lipstick and glosses after one to two years.
Still, the old adage that “all good things come to an end” certainly applies to lotions. When stored properly, lotion can last a long time, but it does expire. Using lotion past the expiration date won't necessarily cause any harm, but expired lotion won't work the way it should.
Should the mascara be in secure plastic wrap? Answer: It most definitely should be sealed.
We know it's a tough call throwing away your favorite blush or lipstick, but abiding by makeup expiration dates is actually incredibly important. Why? Cosmetics can trap bacteria, which means replacing them regularly is necessary to try to avoid skin irritation, breakouts, eye infections, and styes.
Go Ahead, Continue Living Dangerously With That Crusty Tube of Old Mascara. According to general makeup hygiene rules, you're supposed to toss your old mascara out after six months — keeping makeup past its expiration date or neglecting to regularly bathe your beauty tools is a recipe for bacteria and other nasties.
Fill your coffee mug with hot water and dip the tube of mascara in it for few minutes. The heat will do miracles to your mascara – it will soften the dried solution and mascara will be as good as new.
Never add water to your mascara. Eye Mascaras normally have a short shelf life, so make sure to replace them regularly, depending on the fabricant's instructions, but they should be replaced every two to three months.
Too much air seeps into the tube and oxidizes the mascara, causing it to dry out faster.
Liquid makeup
From your mascaras to your foundation, storing these liquid formulas in the fridge can help extend their shelf life a bit. This especially holds true for nail polishes. Heat can cause them to thicken so storing them in the fridge helps the polish remain thin and also helps the paint to go on smoothly.