How Long Should You Keep Your Cosmetics?
Guest Article By Lisa D Liguori
C’mon ladies, fess up.
What do your makeup drawers look like? Your makeup bag in your purse? When is the last time you cleaned out your lipsticks? How many tubes and bottles of foundation do you have hanging around?
You know, the old ones …with the labels worn off.
Clutter just finds it’s way into every corner of our lives. Even our treasured makeup is suspect. My goodness, is nothing sacred?
My mother never threw any thing out.
She was born during the great depression, which formed her sense of abundance, or lack thereof. She not only kept everything, she kept multiples of everything.
One brave day, a few years ago, my sister and I, bags and boxes in hand, decided to clean out her bathroom cupboards. We went on a reconnaissance mission. My mother would not have approved. Mind you, she had lived in this house for 45 years and was not about to start clearing clutter now!
We had grown up in this house.
In this bathroom.
Digging deep into the bowels of these cupboards, was our life history! We found some very strange and very old jars, bottles, tubes & tubs in those cupboards that day. Medicine bottles that should have been archived. Cosmetics that were ancient.
Ah, but my favorite find was bright pink. And jellyish.
Do you remember dippity-do? Do I hear an audible sigh of recognition? Does it bring back memories? We are showing our age for sure, girlfriends! (You know, they still sell it? Who knew? And dear lord, I don’t want to know what it was made of, EEEK.)
Lesson here?
Don’t be like my mother (at least not in the bathroom cabinet department). Start clearing out now, and maintain on a regular basis. Both for your health, and the sanity of loving family members who may just be courageous enough to do it for you one day.
Now, go into your drawers, your cupboards, your purse…and toss, toss, toss!
Here’s Your Cheat Sheet on How Long To Keep Your Make-Up:
Foundation: Liquid Water Based – 12 months & Liquid Oil Based – 18 months
Powder and Pressed Powder: 12 months
True Mineral Makeup Powders: Indefinite
Concealer: 12 months
True Mineral Concealer Powders: Indefinite
Blush: 6 months
True Mineral Blush Powders: Indefinite
Eye Shadow: 12 to 14 months
True Mineral Powder Shadows: Indefinite
Eyeliner:
Pencil – 2 years
Liquid – 3 to 6 months
Mascara: 3 months to 6 months
Lipstick: 2 to 3 years
Nail Color: 1 year
These time frames are not only based on safety but on how long your cosmetics remain effective. After a while, colors change and application may not be as smooth.
Minerals are inorganic and can not collect bacteria, so they will never go bad. However, check your ingredient listing, if they contain ingredients other than minerals, they would have the above shelf life.
3 Extra Easy Tips to Help You Determine Expiration Date of Make-Up & When to Toss It
- One way to keep track of the shelf life of your cosmetics is to mark them when you buy them. Keep a fine point sharpie in your makeup drawer. You can mark the date on the container very easily and it won’t wear off.
- There is a numbers sign on some jars and packaging that tells you the recommended number of months within which the product should be used after you have first opened and used it, provided the product has been stored under normal conditions and not exposed to extreme temperatures. For example (24M) means that you should replace this product within (24 months) after first opening.
- No matter when you bought your cosmetics, if they smell bad get rid of them!
Lisa D Liguori has spent many years doing extensive research in the field of healthy beauty care products. After being disappointed in the offerings in the industry, Lisa founded Style Essentials, a local online boutique to offer a truly healthy alternative.
Style Essentials guarantees that every product carried is safe and effective, and Lisa herself prides herself in her excellent personal attention and service. Feel confidant that she will be here when you need her advice, support and expertise. In addition, www.StyleEssentials.com is a wealth of helpful resources on healthy beauty as well as pure mineral makeup tips.
Would You Like Personal Attention & Care When Choosing Eco-Friendly Mineral Makeup, Organic Skincare & Unique Handcrafted Jewelry? You Got It!
Style Essentials, Naturally♡;
Where Health & Style Meet Bling
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Too funny that you found dippity do, Lisa! Isn’t that like hair grease???
Thanks for sharing a cosmetic cheat sheet with my clan!
PINK hair grease. It came in neon colors. Quite fun, actually.
Loved the opportunity to share the shelf life of cosmetics on your blog; you are terrific to work with!
Lisa D Liguori´s last [type] ..Style Essentials has Moved
Yes, they still sell Dippity Doo and Dep. Yuk. Great article Lisa!
Oh yes, I’ve heard of Dep, Anna! lol
Thanks Lisa, you too
Melody Granger´s last [type] ..Do You Dippity Do- From 1962
Thanks Anna! I forgot about Dep. That was probably under the sink too. My mom had it all. And kept it all!
Lisa, I’m curious what else you found under the sink! How old was the vaseline??? That’s an item that shows up a lot when I work with others!
Melody Granger´s last [type] ..Homes for Sale- 3 Tips to Knock Out Your Competition
Melody, Funny thing is, I don’t recall anything specific anymore except the Dippity Do, and this salve that I no longer remember the name of. It had a very distinct scent, loved it as a child. Wierd which memories stick with us and which ones fade. I do recall my mom being very nervous when she found out our mission that day!
But what was it? The Dippity Do?
My blush lasts, um, 5 years. I guess I should throw it out, huh?
Alison Golden´s last [type] ..Tiger Battles Mother Hymn
Alison, if it is a pure mineral blush, you don’t need to toss it. However, if it has any other ingredients aside from minerals, you do need to get rid of it, as it most likely has bacterial growth.