Buzz
Ever found yourself holding on to an expired tube of mascara in your makeup bag for over a year? Or using a lipstick you've been applying for a decade? Perhaps a liquid eyeliner you completely forgot about? Unless you make a habit of cleaning out your cosmetics, it's all too easy to hang on to makeup, toiletries, grooming tools, and medications far past their expiration dates—even that unopened mascara you love. We’ve all been there, but it’s time to make a change.
Why It's Essential to Throw Away Old Care Products
Old beauty products aren’t just taking up space in your medicine cabinet or makeup bag—they can lead to skin and eye irritations. A UK study revealed that 90% of beauty products, especially sponge makeup blenders, are contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria like E. coli and Staphylococci. These bacteria thrive in damp environments, such as makeup sponges and lipstick tubes, and can cause skin infections or even blood poisoning. Considering where these tools go—from your fingers to your face, mouth, eyes, and back to the product—it’s easy to see why it’s risky to keep them around for too long.
How to Check the Expiration Date of Your Products
In other words, it's important to know exactly what to dispose of and when. The challenge lies in determining the expiration date of a product, as it isn't as straightforward as food items that often display a "sell by" or "best by" date. Makeup, however, has a lifespan based on the period after opening (PAO), starting from the first time you use it, not the purchase date. If you check the packaging, you'll notice a small symbol resembling a jar with a number and letter inside. For instance, "6M" indicates a 6-month shelf life after opening.
To add to the confusion, some products don't even display an expiration date. To help you know which items to keep and which to toss, here's a complete guide to the expiration dates for every toiletry and makeup item. After reading this, you'll never again use makeup sponges, brow wands, eye cream, or sunscreen that could harbor germs. (We promise!)
Makeup Expiration Dates You Should Be Aware Of
Here's the shelf-life for all your creams, powders, and pencils, so you'll know exactly when it's time to refresh your collection.
Mytour.com- Concealer: valid for one year
- Cream blush: lasts one year
- Eyeliner: expires after three months
- Eyeliner pencil: lasts two years
- Eyeshadow: good for one year
- Foundation: usable for one year
- Lip balm: can last from one to five years
- Lip gloss: expires after one year
- Lipstick: remains good for two years
- Liquid eyeliner: lasts up to three months
- Mascara: should be discarded after three months
- Nail polish: can last for one year
- Powder blush: remains effective for two years
The Ideal Time to Dispose and Replace All Your Toiletries
Don't forget to periodically check your toiletries as well. Can you even recall when you last used that shampoo bottle? Most likely, you can't. This guide will help you refresh your bathroom storage and ensure everything is up to date.
Mytour.com- Bar soap: 18 months to 3 years
- Bath oil: 1 year
- Body bleaches and depilatories: 6 months
- Body lotion: 2 years
- Body wash: 3 years
- Deodorant: 1 to 2 years
- Disposable razors: every 5 to 7 uses
- Eye cream: 1 year
- Face cream: 2 years
- Hair brush: 1 year
- Hair gel: 2 to 3 years
- Hair spray: 2 to 3 years
- Loofah: 6 months
- Makeup sponge: 1 month
- Medications: check the label
- Mouthwash: 3 years from manufacturing date
- Nail polish remover: indefinitely
- Perfume: 1 to 2 years
- Shampoo and conditioner: 2 to 3 years
- Shaving cream: 2 years
- Sunscreen: 3 years
- Toothbrush: 3 months
- Tooth-whitening strips: 13 months
Before your makeup expires, prevent exposure to makeup germs and dirt by cleaning your favorite tools, such as dirty makeup brushes, after every few uses (doing it once or twice a week should suffice).
Tips for Storing Makeup So It Stays Fresh
Makeup expiration dates are just part of the equation—the real challenge lies in how you store your makeup. Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and founder of Beauty Stat, advises storing all makeup in a cool, dark, dry environment. This means that your bathroom, which tends to be warm and humid, isn't the best place unless you have a well-sealed medicine cabinet that keeps the steam out. It's better to store your makeup in clear plastic containers on a dresser or vanity in your bedroom.
Robinson recommends storing your makeup in its original packaging, similar to how you would keep your shoes in their boxes. This helps protect it from sunlight, heat, and air exposure.
To extend the shelf life of your lipsticks, store them in the fridge. For longer-lasting mascara, avoid the habit of pumping the wand into the tube, as this introduces air, causing the formula to dry out, a bad habit Robinson warns against.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does makeup still expire if it's not opened?
Yes. Unopened color cosmetics last about 1.5 to 2 years because the pigments can't remain suspended beyond that period. ("Natural" formulas might have a shorter lifespan due to fewer preservatives.)
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What problems could affect a makeup product's shelf life?
Cosmetic experts agree that moisture can promote bacteria growth, while some products may dry out and crack. Fluctuating temperatures and sunlight exposure can also affect the color, texture, and scent of makeup.
