Thread: Makeup expiration... how many keep track?

Hi everyone! I've just done another cleanout of my makeup stash and I got to thinking... how many of you out there keep track of when you bought your makeup and dispose of it at the recommended time? I toss stuff out when it appears to be breaking down or when I simply don't use it anymore, but I've never been good at tracking my purchase times and staying true to when I should.

For reference here are the timelines on an article I read recently that got me thinking about this....

Foundation--1 year
Powder eyeshadow--1 year
Mascara--3 months
Blush or bronzer--2 years
Lipstick--1 year
Nail polish--1 year

evidently lip and eye pencils will keep up to three years if you keep them clean and sharpen before each use.

So, who's a good girl and purges makeup by the calendar?

I used to write on the container when I purchased something but that got to be tedious as I am constantly buying lots of things.

So I do the smell test, literally.

If it smells pungent, rancid, unpleasant, toss it. Do this as soon as you open a product, too, just to make sure. You never know how long something has been sitting in a warehouse or traveled through a hot climate. Keep your products in relatively dark, cool conditions. Some products I actually store in the refrigerator in an area designated for "unedibles."

Nail polish: if it's gooky, add a bit of nail polish remover to liquify it; you might be able to get a few more apps out of it.

Powdered products do not really smell when they go, as they last longer (esp. loose products b/c there are no binders). Make sure the consistency is loose, smooth, even throughout the product.

P.S. There is an amazing new product on the market called "Beauty So Clean."
You can purchase it here.

I write a little note in my calender for my mascara, but everything else I just go by look and smell.

I don't wear mascara (eyes are too sensitive), so I don't have to worry about keeping track of that.

All my other makeup is Bare Minerals, which, in theory, never expires. I found an article about the theory vs. the reality:
Expiry date and shelf life of mineral makeup | Viva Woman

But I've been using BE products that I bought four years ago (warmth, true, eyeshadows, liner shadows, etc.) with no ill effects.

That reminds me, though; I am due to wash my brushes! :Abiggrin:

Originally Posted by nimah

That reminds me, though; I am due to wash my brushes! :Abiggrin:

ACK! At least once a week, yes?

Well, I don't keep track by the calendar, but I've found that I pretty much have a "toss schedule" that matches the one Mihri posted, except I don't keep stick eye-liners that long -- I use them up! I think the most important products to rotate through on a fairly stringent basis are the eye make-ups, especially pencils and liquids.

Anytime I drop an applicator, even onto a "clean" surface, I toss that applicator. If it's something like a mascara wand or liquid eyeliner brush then, of course, everything gets tossed and a new one opened.

But that's pretty easy for me . . . I'm a Mary Kay rep, so I have a store right in my own house!

Deborah

Most of my stuff turns over on time just by my use of it ... and then it crumbles to bits so I can't use it beyond it's expiration ... like I would if I could!!!

I'm really bad about mascara ... 3month?! I keep mine for 6months at least.

And, the worst of all ... I have a foundation that I bought ... 3 ... 4 years ago ... that's really fabulously perfect for stage ... and I tried to get a replacement, but MAC no longer makes it ... so, I can't bring myself to throw it out!!! My aunt mixes makeup ... so maybe I could get her to make a custom foundation for me similar to this one, but it has a special brilliance I've never seen anywhere else.

So I've confessed to all these sins ... but in defense ... I've never noticed funky smells ... and if it's goopy, I do toss it :)

I'm just as bad with my spices ... which I hear you're supposed to turn over every three months :)

I am really bad about throwing away old makup. I have nail polish that's years old. I do need to go through all my makeup and do a major purge.

Speaking of washing brushes, is it okay to just wash with soap and water? or am I damaging my brushes that way?

Originally Posted by mahira-michelle

I am really bad about throwing away old makup. I have nail polish that's years old. I do need to go through all my makeup and do a major purge.

Speaking of washing brushes, is it okay to just wash with soap and water? or am I damaging my brushes that way?

Wash your natural brushes as you would your hair (sans conditioner, but spray with toner afterwards instead). Synthetic can be washed with anything rather gentle.

And always with the handle upward so that water does not collect in the ferrule and dissolve the glue which holds the bristles to the handle.