The More You Know - Cleaning Out Your Cosmetics

Individual tubes of mascara and bottles of foundation don't take up much room, but collectively all the beauty products and cosmetics we’re saving can take a toll – both on available storage space and on our health. At best, cosmetics past their prime just won’t work as well. At worst, they can cause irritation and infection.

Well-formulated cosmetics can remain stable for a couple of years if stored unopened at room temperature. When they're opened and air comes into contact with the product, certain ingredients start to oxidize and degrade.

Every time you touch these products, germs are transferred onto them and, in turn, onto your face and skin. Heat and humidity promote the growth of mold, yeast, bacteria, and fungi, making the bathroom a poor choice for cosmetic storage. (Full disclosure: mine are in the bathroom, but after researching this, I’m planning to make a change.)

So, how do you know how long is too long to keep and use your beauty products? Beyond the obvious signs (mascara drying out, liquids separating), it can be difficult to tell. Plus, U.S. labeling regulations don’t require an expiration date.

There are some labelling regulations in place (mostly on EU products) indicating a recommended time of use. It looks like a small container graphic and says 6m, 12m, 24m, etc.. This indicates the number of the months that you can use the product, 12 months, 24 months or only 6 months. It’s possible to use products longer than the time indicated, but keep in mind that other factors, such as heat and humidity, can shorten the product life.

When there is no recommended use-by date, how do you know how long to keep your beauty products and cosmetics? Continue reading below for the Three C's Guide to Beauty Product Expiration Dates: Chuck it (when to trash it); Cause for Concern (what are the health concerns); and Can't Compete (how it won't work as well as it ages).

Click here to download your free Cleaning Out Your Cosmetics Quick Guide!

Three C's Guide To Beauty Product Expiration Dates

Liquid Face Makeup (e.g., foundation, concealer)

Chuck it: ​6 months

Cause for Concern: Repeatedly dipping brushes and fingers into liquid foundation increases the odds of bacterial and fungal growth.

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, liquid foundation will separate. Oils rise to the top and the consistency thickens, and your foundation will create an uneven, streaky and inconsistent finish.

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Powder Face Makeup

Chuck it: 2 years

Cause for Concern: Powder is actually safer from bacteria than liquid makeup because it lacks the water content bacteria needs to grow.
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Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, powder may become harder to blend. It may crack easier as trace amounts of water in botanical ingredients evaporate. If it changes, toss it.  Notice a hard rim on your powder? This is due to minerals in your powder mixing with oils from your skin over time. ​​

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Mascara

Chuck it: 3 months if used daily; 6 months if used infrequently

​Cause for Concern: The dark, wet environment inside a mascara tube is perfect for bacterial growth and fungi. The preservatives in the formula have a shelf life and will break down, especially with exposure to air and humidity. Each time you use mascara, it’s exposed to bacteria and fungi. Plus, there's the transfer of the bacteria that naturally exist on our eyelashes. If it smells funky, it’s gone off, but trust us, just toss it after 3 – 6 months. 

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, mascara will dry out, especially if you pump the wand, forcing air into the tube. Instead, draw the wand out slowly and twist the brush to pick up product from the inside of the tube.

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Eye Shadow

Chuck it: 6 months for cream eye shadow; 2 years for powder eye shadow (if you wet the powder, 6 months)

Cause for Concern: Again, the water in cream eye shadow promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi, especially if you dip your fingers in the product instead of using a clean applicator.

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, eye shadows get packed down, making it more difficult to pick up the color.

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Eyeliner

Chuck it: 3 months for liquid eyeliners; 2 years for pencil eyeliners

​Cause for Concern: Liquid eyeliner has the same issues with bacteria and fungi as mascara. They flourish in a dark, wet environment. A pencil eyeliner is less bacteria-friendly, and a fresh surface is created each time it's sharpened (make sure to clean sharpener with rubbing alcohol regularly).

Can't Compete:  When it's past its prime, a white film may develop on your pencil eyeliner that can’t be sharpened off. If this happens, replace it with a new one.

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Lipstick and Lipliner

Chuck it: 2 years for lipstick and gloss; 2 years or more for lipliner

Cause for Concern: The water content in lipstick makes it prone to bacteria and fungi, especially when stored in a humid environment. Pencil lipliner lasts longer because a new surface is created each time it's sharpened. Also, don’t apply lipstick straight after eating – it cultivates bacteria.

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, lipstick will dry out. Long-lasting formulas dry out even sooner because they contain ingredients that evaporate more quickly. Any beading of moisture, funky smells or chalky texture means it’s time to toss. Store your summer hue in the fridge. Keeping lipstick and gloss away from heat slows the breakdown of certain ingredients. 

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Makeup Brushes

​Chuck it: Brushes can last a long time if well looked after.

Cause for Concern: Brushes should be washed at least once every two weeks, and try to spot-clean your eye brushes after each use to avoid infections. All you need is warm water, mild soap and a dash of olive oil. Give your brush a swirl (the olive oil breaks down the oil in make-up) and rinse thoroughly.

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, the bristles start falling out. Then it’s time to replace.

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Skin Care

Chuck it: Acne creams and other over-the-counter products that contain drugs are FDA regulated and usually carry expiration dates. Other than those: 6 months for products claiming to have anti-aging and skin-changing benefits. 1 year if they're in pump bottles. 

Cause for Concern: Some ingredients, like vitamin C, retinol, and hydroquinone, degrade more rapidly if left in direct sunlight or exposed to air. It’s uncommon, but some formulas become even MORE potent over time. How? Active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid become more concentrated as their bases degrade, separate, or evaporate. This increased concentration can irritate your skin. Store properly, and look for products that come in a pump, which helps keep air out. 

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, skin care can be ineffective or the ingredients can separate.

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Sunscreen

Chuck it: 6 months

Cause for Concern: As the active ingredients degrade, the sunscreen becomes less potent, increasing the possibility of sunburns and skin damage.

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, it can separate. But to play it safe, discard after 6 months. Store out of the sun.

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Nail Polish

Chuck it: 1 to 2 years

Cause for Concern:  In reality, nail lacquer should stay safe forever. It might not be any good after many years - due to slow color changes or if it evaporates to a solid, useless block - but it won't be unsafe. 

Can't Compete: When it's past its prime, it will change color, thicken, and eventually solidify. Try not to store nail polish in the bathroom. It's especially sensitive to humidity and temperature changes.

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Hair Products

Chuck it: 1 year

Cause for Concern: As preservatives break down over time, bacteria and microbial growth can occur. If these products are used on scalps or on skin with abrasions, open sores, rashes or similar, there could be a risk of added infection.

Can't Compete: Always close the caps of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products tightly, or water and air can get in, breaking down the formulas or causing them to separate. Aerosol cans are the best container for protecting product, so sprays should last longer. 

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Fragrance

Chuck it: 2 years — or potentially much longer

Cause for Concern: the chemical balance within the perfume can change; molecules in the perfume can break down and recombine. These chemical changes can cause irritation, and even an allergic reaction if you don't remove the perfume from your skin right away. The reaction may make you think you are allergic to your favourite perfume, when, in fact, the bottle you have is simply out of date.​

Can't Compete: Eau de toilettes and perfumes can last for several years, kept out of humidity and sunlight. Both of which can alter a fragrance and change the scent.

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10 Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy
and Make Your Products Last Longer

1. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before putting your fingers into a product.
2. Avoid reinfection. Stop using all eye makeup if you have an eye infection and lip products if you have a cold sore. Exceptions: lipsticks, lipliners, and eye pencils, which can be shaved clean with a knife or sharpener (cleaning with a tissue won't suffice.)
3. Don't share makeup. You may be sharing an infection.
4. Keep applicators and containers clean.
5. Tightly screw on caps to prevent products from drying out.
6. If any of your beauty products develop an unusual odor, color, or texture, they may contain bacteria and should be discarded.
7. Choose a cotton-tipped swab or disposable sponge to apply makeup to a pimple — and avoid double-dipping. Going back and forth from the product to the affected area with your finger or a sponge can lead to contamination.
8. Store properly. As mentioned, heat can cause preservatives to break down, promoting the growth of bacteria and fungi.
9. Never add any liquids to products unless directed by the manufacturer.
10. To avoid confusion, use a waterproof marker to mark your beauty products with purchase and first use dates.

​What do you think? Are you now thinking of tossing a favorite cosmetic? Comment below and let me know.

And make sure you download the free Cleaning Out Your Cosmetics Quick Guide!

Until then....


Happy Organizing!

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