LET IT GO! knowing when to toss out your makeup

How many of us have had that same old mascara in our makeup bags for as long as we can remember? I don’t know what it is about makeup but most of us have the hardest time parting with it. What’s the problem, you ask? It may be expired and being educated on the shelf life of your make up is good for your separation anxiety and your skin. 

Here is the scoop: There is already a small amount of bacteria present in makeup BEFORE you even open it and try it on. So by the time that you expose it to air and start putting your dirty hands and brushes all over it, the bacteria will have increased significantly. It’s not a health hazard of any kind, your skin can withstand a little bacteria. But if you already have unhealthy skin, you’re only asking for trouble.

Below is some professional advice on shelf life for your makeup so you can stop feeling sentimental about that one product you just love so much but have got to let go.

Foundation: You should only keep it around from 6 months to a year.

Concealer: Should only be kept from 1 to 1 ½ yrs.

Face Powder/ Eye-shadow: You have a little bit of extra time with these, so go ahead and keep these for up to 3 years.

Eye/Lip Pencils: Try to throw these out every 3-6 months. But if you obtain an eye or lip infection, just get rid of it as fast as you can.

Lipstick/ Lip-gloss: Keep these up to 2 years, but no more than that.

Mascara: Change these up every 3-4 months. You do NOT want this around any longer than that!

If any of these items change color, thicken, or change texture, you are way overdue for a new one. Throw it away and treat yourself. It’s been a while, anyway.

One tip to avoid expediting your makeup’s shelf life: store it in cool, dry places. Avoid storing it wherever may become humid (like your bathroom) because the moisture will speed its expiration date.
AND, PLEASE PEOPLE, for the love of everything that is beautiful, do not share your make up. It is unsanitary and you do not know where these peoples’ lips, eyes, or faces have been. This is one of those instances where you JUST SAY NO.

Always consider NOT becoming attached to these items as they can easily be replaced. Remember that you’re only helping yourself by doing some deep cleaning in your makeup bag every once in a while. Besides, it gives you an excuse to take a little trip to the mall for some beautifying. And no one should have to do that alone…

Did someone just say Girls’ Night Out?