Much like an inspired spring cleaning, doing a quick overhaul of your makeup bag is perfectly timed with the change of the seasons. While you might be hesitant to part with some of your favorite products, it will feel so good to dump that bag of goodies on the table and give it a good sort. Holding on to cosmetics for too long can leave you with a host of problematic issues like itchy eyes and irritated skin – so don’t feel bad about a little clearing of the clutter. This process pretty much calls on your instincts to decide – is your mascara a little too clumpy and your nail polish separating? If you can’t remember exactly how long that tube of concealer has been around – when it doubt, it’s time to toss. Here’s a breakdown of when to toss your makeup.
Eye products. Your eyes are very delicate and taking super good care of them is absolutely essential – they are your window to the world, after all. So, being incredibly diligent with the rotation of your eye makeup is important for keeping your peepers as healthy as possible. Replacing mascara and liquid eyeliner every three to six months is standard – unless you’ve had an eye infection. In that case, toss immediately. Eye shadows and eye pencils have a longer shelf life – one to four years, in fact! Especially if you keep your brushes clean.
Lips. This one is a bit of an exception because they often get used up far before the expiration. A good lipstick or gloss can last anywhere from one to two years – but the moment it smells funny or gets goopy, it’s time to toss.
Foundation. First things first – does your foundation squeeze out of a tube or have a pump – or are you dabbing your fingers in there on the daily? Despite how good you are at washing your hands, there’s no doubt that germs can live on and on inside the bottle. A foundation that includes a pump should be good to go for about eight months or so, while the dab method should be replaced twice a year.
Bronzer and Powder. Face products with a powder base have a slightly longer shelf life than something in liquid form, so you can feel pretty good about hanging on to those for a while. Keep your eye out for funky smells or if anything looks off – if so, toss immediately. Otherwise, replace annually.
When is the last time you ran a quick audit of your makeup bag?
