Find out what the shelf life is for the cosmetics you use every day.
Despite any urges you may have to keep all your favorite beauty products until every tube, tin, and bottle is empty, the fact is cosmetics do have a shelf life. And to prevent the bacteria in old products from causing skin irritations, rashes, and acne breakouts, you'll need to toss anything that's past its prime.
To help you figure out when to get rid of whatever's been sitting at the bottom of your makeup bag, here's a list of cosmetics and their approximate expiration dates.
* Mascara: 3 to 4 months — It has a very short shelf life because the wand picks up bacteria from the eye area with every use, causing the tube to become a ground for microorganisms.
* Eyeliners: 4 to 6 months — Any makeup used near the eyes can easily pick up bacteria, so it's best to part ways after a short time. Exception here is pencil eyeliners. If you sharpen them regularly, they can last up to a year or longer.
* Multi use Products: 6 months — Sticks that can be used on your eyes, lips, and cheeks are time and money-savers, but they can also spread germs all around your face. Protect yourself by wiping the surface of the product before switching from one spot to another.
* Cream-based Makeup: 1 to 2 years — Similar to moisturizers, liquid- or cream-based cosmetics like foundation, concealer, and cream blush often contain fatty ingredients that can go bad quickly.
* Lip Color: 1 to 2 years — Use a lip brush to avoid transferring germs from your mouth onto your lipstick tube.
* Nail Polish: 2 years — A clear sign that your polish has gone bad is that the color has separated from the oil in the bottle or it geta tacky.
* Powder-based Makeup: 2 to 3 years — Because most do not contain water, face powders, eye shadows, and powder blushes and bronzers can usually last a bit longer than other types of cosmetics.
If you don't remember when you bought a product, a good rule of thumb is to toss anything that smells "BAD,". A change in color or texture is another dead giveaway. But if you get an infection on your face (especially on your eyes or lips), immediately throw out products that have come into contact with those areas.
