Ever wonder if you need to throw out your old makeup? Get in depth information on old products right here.

If you’re a makeup junkie like me, you probably have a couple ‘spur of the moment’ purchases, that you just had to have, but only used once for that special occasion that you bought it for..

And while its not likely that you will go blind from using 2 year old mascara, there are some unpleasant consequences to using expired products.
 
Best case scenario, expired cosmetics will just stop doing what they’re supposed to do, but expired cosmetics can harbour excess oil and bacteria, which can lead to clogged pores, acne breakouts, skin irritation, dermatitis, allergic reactions and infection.

For your own health and safety’s sake, it’s therefore important to take note of at least a rough estimate as to when you should replace certain products.

There are 2 dates/periods that you should look at: The Expiry Date and the Period After Opening (PAO)

The Expiry Date is the date after which your cosmetic product will be expired and should not be used any more. Usually this date will be specified somewhere on the container in the form month/year or day/month/year.

The PAO, indicates how many months the product can safely be used after being opened. Some cosmetics are labelled with a jar with a ‘M’ for months and a number, indicating the PAO, but this is not as commonly found on products as the expiry date

You will need to take both the expiry date and POA into consideration, and which ever one is reached first, is when you should look at throwing out that product.

Here is an indication of the average PAO for the most commonly used cosmetics, but please keep in mind that these are only estimates, and remember to count from the day you break the seal on the product:

Cream & gel cleansers and toners  –  PAO:  1 year.

Moisturisers (incl. day creams, night creams, eye creams, etc)  –  POA:  6-12 months
Moisturisers, especially the ones that contain natural ingredients such as plant extracts essential oils, can quickly lose their efficacy and should be used up quickly. Avoid buying three or four similar products, opening them all and using them on and off.
tip: Use a clean, plastic spatula or a spoon instead of sticking your fingers in the pot, as this decreases the chance of introducing unwanted bacteria into the product.

Foundations  –  PAO:  6-12 months
Most foundations these days claim to be oil-free, and are therefore water-based, ideal for bacteria growth. Try keeping your foundation in the fridge or a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight, & NOT on the bathroom, where moisture and high temperatures will encourage bacteria growth
tip: Choose a foundation with a pump dispenser rather than a tube, or screw top bottle. This will reduce the products exposure to air (and your fingers or sponge/brush) & thus also the risk of contamination.

Concealers  –  PAO:  12-18 months
These are meant to hide blemishes, not cause them – which could happen if you use a bacteria harbouring concealer. Stick concealer generally lasts longer than liquid based concealers. If you are using a concealer that comes in a wand and brush package, always wipe the brush before putting it back into the container, to avoid spreading bacteria back into the container.

Facial powder  –  PAO:  2-3 years
Powders (in turn) contain very little water, but as your powder mixes with minute amounts of your natural skin oils left on your sponge/brush it will eventually also lead to contamination. As a general rule, loose powder can last a bit longer – up to three years in the right conditions.
tip: Wash your sponges or brushes as often as possible, or invest in a brush cleaner spray, that can be used after each use.

Blusher  –  PAO:  2 years
Most of the same rules that apply to powder blush, as to facial powder. Moisture (promoting bacterial growth) can however come in the form of residue from your foundation and face cream, if you’re applying blush over these products before they have dried on your skin.
tip: To prevent this from happening, after applying foundation and moisturiser, allow for it to dry/ be absorbed, blot excess with a tissue, or before putting on your blush.
Cream blushes should be replaced after 12-18 months, because they contain more emulsions, which are less stable and break down over time.

Eyeshadow  –  PAO:  2-3 years
Powder eyeshadows can potentially last very long because they are mainly pigmented pressed powder, but keep in mind that they do also come in contact with a mucous membrane (eyes), where there’s a higher risk of transferring bacteria to the product and then back to the eyes.
Cream eyeshadows, like cream blushes, use emulsions that break down over time, so should also be replaced after 12-18 months

Liquid or gel eyeliner  –  POA:  6-12 months

Pencil eyeliner  –  PAO:  2-3 years
Pencil eyeliner will last a bit longer than liquid if you sharpen them regularly, which will help prevent bacterial growth.
tip: Make sure that you also clean your sharpener with some surgical spirits in between uses.

Mascara  –  PAO:  3-4 months
This is item in your makeup bag that has the shortest lifespan. As the brush is taken out, applied, and put back in the tube, it forces any bacteria that it has collected along the way, further into the container where the dark, moist environment is ideal for the bacteria to thrive.
tip: Stick to one mascara and use it regularly so you finish it within a few months rather than alternating between a number of different mascaras.
extra tip: Pumping the wand in and out will over expose the product to drying air. Rather gently twirl your wand around inside the tube if you wish to collect more product on the brush.

Lipstick  –  PAO:  2-3 years
Follow the general rule that if it starts to smell rancid, or if the texture changes and it doesn’t go on smoothly, its time to trash it.
tip: If you keep your lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer.

Lipgloss  –  PAO:  18-24 months
Because of its more liquid formula, lipgloss can’t be kept quite as long as lipstick. The types that come in a tube with a brush applicator, once again has the added ‘contamination’ potential, when the brush is taken out, applied, and put back in the tube.

Lipliner  –  PAO:  2-3 years
Once again, be sure to sharpen your pencil regularly.

Nail Polish  –  PAO:  12-18 months
Exposure to air will eventually cause your nail polish to dry out and become thick and clumpy, making it difficult to apply smoothly. It will also start to separate with the pigments settling along the bottom of the bottle. To be safe, rather do not try to ‘revive’ polish by adding acetone, or any another diluting product.

Perfumes  –  PAO:  up to 3 years
Fragrances carry little risk of becoming contaminated because they usually contain alcohol, which is a natural preservative, but they will lose their ‘potency’ over time.
tip: Resist the temptation of displaying your pretty perfume bottles on your dressing table and rather store it in its box and out of direct sunlight (preferably in your cupboard), somewhere with a moderate temperature. This will help to increase the shelf life of your favourite fragrances.

Hairstyling products  –  PAO:  3-5 years
Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula

Sun cosmetics  –  PAO:  1 year (but no more than one season);

Body lotion:  –  PAO:  2-3 years

Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel  –  POA:  3 years.

Shaving cream – PAO:  2 years.

Deodorant – PAO:  2 years.

General tips & guidelines

– The general golden rule is simple: as soon as you notice any changes in colour, texture or odour in a product – its time to let it go.
– If your cosmetics were in heat or sunlight for a while (eg. left in your car by mistake) – do not use it any more – even if it was recently purchased.
– Make sure the lids and caps to all your products are secured air tight after using
– Where possible, store your makeup & cosmetics in a cool, dry place (not the bathroom) – out of direct sunlight and heat.
– To help you remember how old a product is, use a thin permanent marker to write the date that you opened it somewhere on the container.
– Disposable makeup sponges can be cleaned after a week or 2 of use, but replace them after a month.
– Wipe your makeup brushes with a dry paper towel or wash cloth in between uses, and wash at least once a month.

Read more about the shelf-life of makeup.

Article by: Mariaan http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/promakeupme