When Good Makeup Goes Bad

If you were to take a quick peek in any woman’s bathroom, chances are you’d find jars of rarely used face cream, the reminisce of a powdery pink blush, and at least one tube of lip gloss squeezed within an inch of its life. 

 

Whether unused, squeezed, or consumed to the very last drop, old cosmetics could be taking up shelf space because you want to get every penny out of the precious dollars spent on them. Beauty products do go bad. You probably don't think about makeup going bad like milk, but things like mascara and even nail polish have expiration dates. Unlike say, food, cosmetic companies aren't required to put expiration dates on beauty products, but a few brands do list them anyway, so take a look at the package. At best, makeup can stop performing as well as it used to; at worst, old makeup can cause irritations and breakouts. Find out how long your favorite beauty products last, and how to know when it's time for them to go. 

Shelf life of mascara, 2 - 3 months.
When to toss, soon as you notice it's getting clumpy or smells weird, toss it out!

Shelf life of liquid foundation and concealer, 6 -12 months.

When to toss, if it has separated into layers or the color has lightened, it's time to buy a new one!

Shelf life of lipstick and lip gloss, 2 years for lipstick, 1 year for gloss.
 When to toss, if you notice your lipstick has become dry or your gloss is extra sticky, they've probably gone bad!

Shelf life of nail polish, 1 - 2 years

When to toss, if the polish is extra goopy or has separated into layers and won't blend after a quick shake, it's time to let it go!