After hours of testing, and what appeared to be an endless number of swipes, the research team had their answer. Drumroll, please! The average tube of lipstick provides 293 swipes. Now, if you applied lipstick three times a day, every day of the week, a single tube of lipstick will last you about three months.
Lip gloss/liquid lipstick: Lipgloss can last from six months to one year. Mascara: Mascara can last three to six months. If you start to notice a change in the product's texture or smell, discontinue use immediately. Powder products: Products like setting powder, bronzer, or powder blushes can last up to two years.
When to Throw Away Makeup Guidelines:
Liquid Foundation: after 6 months to 1 year. Cream Makeup: after 6 months to 1 year. Lipstick: after 1 year. Powder Makeup: after 2 years.
Warm Water
The first hack for dried up liquid lipstick is to place your liquid lipstick tube in hot water for about 10-15 minutes. Don't submerge the cap to avoid getting any water inside the tube that can potentially ruin your liquid lipstick!
Using the weight test (and assuming that a 'normal' person applies lipstick three times a day, as suggested by Birchbox), you would expect a 3.8g lipstick to last around five months if you used it each day.
When to toss
Lipstick doesn't hold much bacteria, so it can last between 12 – 18 months. Although lipstick and gloss are packed with preservatives such as parabens, essential oils and vitamins to ward off germs, these naturally start to break down after a year.
Since there is no date on makeup containers, it can be difficult to tell when makeup is past its expiration date. We've found that generally, a product that is stored properly in a cool, dry place and unopened should last for 2 to 3 years.
One of the best ways to use liquid lipstick and how to apply liquid lipstick is to prep your lips. Always prep your lips before you reach out for that liquid lipsticks. Make sure you exfoliate your lips to get them rid of loose skin. This will create a smooth surface for your liquid lipstick to glide upon.
If your gloss is sticky or clumpy, try running an ice cube over the top of your lips after applying. It smooths it out and de-goops it. Another easy sticky fix is to dust translucent face powder over the top - not too much, or it will clump.
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.
“The artificial pigments in lipsticks may be transformed into mutants under ultraviolet radiation, which may cause cancer,” says Dr Rana. He adds, “If you face irritation, redness, and itching on the skin, after using expired lipstick, make sure to consult your dermatologist immediately.”
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.
Liquid lipsticks are perfect for creating precise and crisp lines, whereas traditional lipsticks need an additional lip-liner to achieve the same look. So if you're after a well-defined lip shape and are tired of feathering lipsticks, a liquid lipstick might just be your best option.
Lip gloss and lipsticks should be replaced every six months, says Linkner, especially if you're prone to perleche—cracking, crusting, or irritation in the corners of the mouth caused by bacteria or fungus. “The lip makeup can harbor those microorganisms and reinfect the skin if you're not careful,” she cautions.
Getting even coverage with the lip pencil is extra important when using a matte lipstick. We recommend a glide-on lip pencil - like Mented's - for a no-skip, smooth application.
A matte lipstick has more wax and pigment and less oil, which makes for a rich, opaque, product that is deeper in color and long-wearing. However, the loss of the added oils makes the overall texture of the lipstick drier and more likely to settle in the cracks and crevices of your lips.
You apply too many layers of your liquid lipstick
And once it dries down, the liquid lipstick will also start to crumble, flake, and crack. Not only that, most liquid lipsticks are also very drying and can make your lips chapped and dehydrated if you layer on too much.
All lipsticks have a shelf life of 2 years. If yours is more than 2 years old, then it's time to throw it into the bin. You see, using an expired lipstick can cause irritation and inflammation on the lips. Hence, in this case, prevention is better than cure.
The wrong color may spoil your mood, but the risk of a lipstick or lip-gloss formula spoiling (or growing bacteria) is low since they don't contain water, says Hammer. But since they're repeatedly exposed to the mouth area, he suggests replacing lip products after a year — or if you've recently been sick.
Generally, experts agree that using eyeshadow that is slightly past its expiration date shouldn't case you too many issues. However, it isn't recommended, and you shouldn't use eyeshadow that you know is well past its expriation date.