If you are proud of the fact that an eyeshadow palette you bought with your first paycheque still seems to work fine, then we’re sorry to break it to you, but that product has probably expired.
Expired products tend to become a breeding ground for bacteria and end up posing a serious risk to your skin and health. Therefore, it is really important to keep a track of when your makeup products expire and replace them as and when necessary.
To help make things easier for you, we’ve come up with a comprehensive guide you can refer to in order to know when it’s finally time to trash that product you’ve been so dearly holding on to…
- Mascara – 3 months
- Liquid foundations – 2 years
- Cream-based products – 1 year
- Lipsticks and lip glosses – 2 and 1 year, respectively
- Powder-based products – 2 years
Mascara – 3 months
Although mascaras have a shelf life of about 1 year, this comes down to three months once you open the tube and start using it. This is because every time you open the tube, you are exposing the product to a lot of dirt and bacteria, which could later enter your eyes, contaminate them and cause serious eye infections *yikes*.
Liquid foundations – 2 years
Liquid foundations tend to have a longer shelf life, majorly because of the way they are packaged. If your liquid foundation has a pump dispenser, then you can use it for up to two years.
Cream-based products – 1 year
All your cream-based makeup products such as concealers, highlighters, eyeshadows, etc. tend to attract a lot of yeast and mould, thereby reducing their shelf life to just one year. It is important to discard these products after the stipulated time to avoid acne and other types of skin infections.
Lipsticks and lip glosses – 2 and 1 year, respectively
These are two makeup products that people use until they’re either over or lost, and trashing them is something that never crosses their mind. But lipsticks should be thrown out after two years, while lip glosses should not be used for more than a year. Apart from keeping them clean, it is really important to observe these timelines because you put these products onto your mouth.
Powder-based products – 2 years
Like liquid foundations, powder products have a longer shelf life too, thanks to lower or no water content. Even so, it is really important to closely watch your compacts and eyeshadows, as they could sometimes go bad earlier than this leading to acne and skin woes.
Written by Urvi Dalal on Feb 20, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!