topic Re: How long should you keep unused makeup? in Beauty

How long should you keep unused makeup?

secondwind — Fri, 23 May 2014 02:22:57 GMT

I have an active outdoors job and do not wear makeup on a daily basis. My Bobby Brown foundation, Bare Minerals blush and eye shadow are several years old. I know mascara has to be replaced on a regular basis but these items still get the job done. What is the shelf life of most types of make up.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

gazelle77 — Fri, 23 May 2014 03:21:12 GMT

beauty..com/od/makeuptrickstips/a/shelflife.htm

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

krissie622 — Fri, 23 May 2014 04:17:36 GMT

I keep mine until and unless it's clearly bad. I have bare minerals eye shadows that must be over a decade old. You can tell when lipstick is bad, and anything that smells bad or performs poorly, separates, etc. , but most dry items will last a long, long time.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Westbrook1 — Fri, 23 May 2014 06:51:58 GMT

Depends upon the products you have, Some of the products have more life rather you put them open instead of putting them in a cool place...

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Starlight1_1 — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:05:55 GMT

I read somewhere that its three months, then it should be discarded.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

betteb — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:44:01 GMT

gazelle's link didn't work?, but I did find this http://beauty.about.com/od/makeuptrickstips/a/shelflife.htm

I have lots of unused lippies from GWP's and I won't discard them, unless they are obviously funky.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

snowwy — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:11:15 GMT

Leslie has said Bare Escentuals loose minerals do not expire. You don't have to worry about any sealed unused products they make. Open and used, I don't worry about unless I see them change, which has never happened in my 8 years with BE. My experience has been the same with their products other than the loose. Ready and primers and lip products, always fine. I toss glosses and such once used for a while but not because they don't seem perfectly fine.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

SuzyBailey — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 03:47:18 GMT

Some makeups have on the back of the jar a little ""bottle"" and it will say 12m or 24m on them. That's how long they are good for after opening. M=months.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Caitlinh429 — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 04:12:08 GMT

On 7/21/2014 SuzyBailey said: Some makeups have on the back of the jar a little "bottle" and it will say 12m or 24m on them. That's how long they are good for after opening. M=months.

What Suzy said!

I've posted this before but will say again. ALL beauty items have an expiration date (don't believe the hoopla about certain makeups not having an expiration date, everything expires eventually). This includes ALL makeup (especially liquids), lotions, skin care (cleansers, serums, moisturizers), self-tanners, etc.

Look at your product and find an icon that is a far with its lid open. Next to, or in the jar will be a number followed by "M", this means number of months the product is good for after you expose it to oxygen, aka after you open it. For instance, 12m =12 months, 6m = 6 months, etc. The icon will either be on the back of the bottle or on the bottom. If it is a liquid eyeliner look for it after the ingredients list.

Note that even if you do not open it, it is possible for the product to expire before you open it. Different factors such as moisture, humidity, light, lack of parabens, natural ingredients, self-tanner (DHA), fragrance, oils, added colors, etc can ALL affect expiration. So it's best to put un-used products in a container away from light and temperature changes (never keep products in your car). And as always if you use any eye products (eye serums, concealers, mascara, eye shadows and liners) to use them up with 30-90 days, as these products are more likely to carry bacteria that can do not so pretty things to your eyes.

Look for this icon on your products:

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Moonlady — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:43:44 GMT

Three months? Ridiculous!

In other words, I keep them a lot longer than the cosmetics manufacturers wish I would.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Susan25 — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 02:52:21 GMT

I agree that many skin care products have an expiration date. Especially facial moisturizers, serums, suntan lotion, etc. Instead of wasting money on products that you have to discard, the best practice is not to overbuy these type of products. At least, that is what I try to do. I buy new mascara often, every few months, since I believe that it goes bad quickly. I also keep track when I purchase eye shadow, face makeup and other makeup items and discard all of these after a couple of years or if they appear to have gone bad. I am sure that it isn't easy always easy, but the best practice is not to overbuy. You save money in the long run and are also using fresher, safer products.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

BichonEmma — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:11:05 GMT

On 8/2/2014 susan25 said:
I agree that many skin care products have an expiration date. Especially facial moisturizers, serums, suntan lotion, etc. Instead of wasting money on products that you have to discard, the best practice is not to overbuy these type of products. At least, that is what I try to do. I buy new mascara often, every few months, since I believe that it goes bad quickly. I also keep track when I purchase eye shadow, face makeup and other makeup items and discard all of these after a couple of years or if they appear to have gone bad. I am sure that it isn't easy always easy, but the best practice is not to overbuy. You save money in the long run and are also using fresher, safer products.

That's what I do too susan. I am guilty of getting too big a pile of the free sample packets from sephora. I've started giving them away if I haven't tried them in a few months

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

chrystaltree — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 04:15:30 GMT

Years???? I think they say 3 months but I keep makeup for 6 months. After that, I chuck it. Better safe than sorry. I wear makeup every day but, except for nail polish, I don't horde makeup. I don't want to waste money.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Susan25 — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:30:04 GMT

http://www.bellasugar.com/When-Throw-Makeup-Away-Guidelines-Cosmetic-Life-Span-1124422

Some information about how long to keep various makeup items.

This article has a list of various products that lists the shelf life. Most are from a year to 18 months. Except for mascara, I can't think of anything else that needs to be discarded after 3 months. That seems very wasteful also. Especially if you buy expensive makeup products.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

soonersis — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 03:38:50 GMT

What I've started doing recently (to be on the safe side) is when I start using a product I see what the expiration is from the little icon on the product. I then write that down on a list I keep and when that expiration comes I throw it away even if I haven't used it up. The only thing I don't do this with is my mineral makeup, but I also never put my fingers or a brush into their container, but sprinkle it into something else to use. Also, just because I think it doesn't work as well, I replace my mascara every 3 months.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

lottogurl — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:10:49 GMT

if it's several years old..in the trash it would go.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

justashopper — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:29:19 GMT

My answer is not going to be very popular but that's never stopped me before. Haha. I think a lot of those expiration dates are just there to scare you into buying more. With that said, I take very good care of my things-- keep them clean etc so other than mascara, because it dries out so quickly, I'll keep a blush lipstick or powder until it doesn't seem to work as well....

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

apple1964 — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:36:19 GMT

When it starts to smell or changes color time for the garbage bag.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

mima — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:46:12 GMT

On 5/22/2014 krissie622 said: I keep mine until and unless it's clearly bad. I have bare minerals eye shadows that must be over a decade old. You can tell when lipstick is bad, and anything that smells bad or performs poorly, separates, etc. , but most dry items will last a long, long time.

This is my answer too.

Re: How long should you keep unused makeup?

Ms X — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 14:54:30 GMT

Unless there's a threat of danger from bacterial contamination (as with mascara), I'd go by whether they appear and function as they should. I don't discard mascara after only a few months.