Hi everyone,
Today’s post is about the shelf life of our makeup and skincare products. Most of us here on IMBB are likely to be makeup and skincare enthusiasts, with lots and lots of beauty products in our stash. However, we do know that most of these products come with a particular expiry date. Even then, we continue to use some of these products because we think they are still in perfect condition or we’re simply too unhappy to toss them away. We don’t always end up finishing a bottle of foundation within six months, so we just as easily end up using it for 2-3 years and it seems good enough! However, sometimes, our products become too old and unfit to be used without us even realizing it. This is why it’s important to have a good sense which products last for how long, even if we’ve lost track of the exact expiry date.
1. Base Products:
Liquid foundation: 12 months. Oil-free foundations have a shorter shelf life. The more liquid the texture, the more prone to bacterial growth the product is.
Cream foundation: 18 months. Always use a clean applicator with cream foundation.
Powder foundation: 2 years.
Compact face powder: 2 years.
Loose face powder: 3 years.
Concealer: Liquid concealers last well up to 1 year. Beyond that, the danger of bacterial growth rises. Cream or stick concealers last up to 18 months.
2. Eye Products:
Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months. Liquid eyeliners dry up relatively fast and can cause and spread eye infections if used well beyond the stated shelf life.
Pencil eyeliner: Up to 2 years. Because pencil eyeliners are sharpened at regular intervals, they last longer.
Powder eyeshadow: Up to 2 years. Make sure that you clean your eyeshadow brushes after every use to ensure that the product stays clean and bacteria-free.
Cream eyeshadow: 1 year to 18 months. Cream eyeshadows dry up faster than their powder variants and also have a shorter shelf life because they’re more prone to bacteria. Make sure to always use clean fingertips to apply cream shadow.
Mascara: 3-6 months. Don’t wait until your mascara dries up. Mascara is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and you don’t want to risk damaging your eyes. Make sure to replace your mascara after every 3-6 months.
3. Cheek Products:
Powder highlighter/blush/bronzer: Just like face powder, cheek products in the powder form last the longest i.e. up to 2 years.
Cream highlighter/blush/bronzer: Cream cheek products last well up to 18 months.
Liquid highlighter/blush/bronzer: Liquid cheek products have the shortest shelf life among the three variants. They last well up to 1 year.
4. Lip Products:
Lipstick: 1 year to 18 months. To ensure that your lipstick stays clean and lasts long, you could wipe away the top of your lipstick with a clean tissue after every application. This will control any bacterial growth on the lipstick and will prevent premature spoilage.
Liquid lipstick: 6 months to 1 year.
Lip gloss: 18 months to 2 years. Make sure to disinfect the wand after every 2-3 applications.
Lip liner: Up to 2 years. Just like pencil eye liners, lip liners last well because of the regular sharpening.
5. Skincare:
Creams, moisturizers, and lotions: Up to 12 months.
Serums and toners: 6 months to 1 year.
Face masks: 6 months to 1 year.
6. Natural and organic makeup and skincare:
Natural products have a very short shelf life when compared with chemically processed or packaged beauty products. This is because they don’t contain preservatives.
7. Fragrances:
Your favourite fragrance can last you several years. However, to make sure it stays in good condition and smells nice, you will have to store it in a cool, dark and dry environment, always away from sunlight.
8. Nail polish:
Nail polish tends to become dry and streaky after 1 year to 18 months of use.
How to Know if Your Beauty Products Have Expired
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Brilliant Ways to Reuse Expired Products
