But I took a look at it recently. What makeup items should I get rid of? What wouldn’t be safe to use after a year of opening? And what is it good to keep? Do I have to start my entire collection over? I am saddened by this thought.
But I took a look at it recently. What makeup items should I get rid of? What wouldn’t be safe to use after a year of opening? And what is it good to keep? Do I have to start my entire collection over? I am saddened by this thought.
I disagree with the notion that anything, other than perhaps mascara, **must* be per se discarded just because it reached some imaginary “expiration” date. Some people here, who are obsessed with expiration dates placed on products by the very people trying to sell you more products, will find this disgusting. And that’s fine. But I’ve been wearing makeup regularly for 30+ years and I have never had an issue or infection.
Liquid lips? I have some that I have literally been wearing for 5 years and they are fine. Open it, smell it, check its consistency both inside and outside the container. If it looks, smells, and acts fine, then it’s fine.
The same test works for really any liquid product. Foundation,s especially, since they aren’t going into mucus membranes, ought to be fine. For eyeliner, I have some gel liners I have used for almost a decade. Again, they are fine.
Anything powder or pencil is fine so long as you don’t see mold and it doesn’t smell off.
The point is this – there are no hard and fast rules about something being “unsafe” to use after a year. Many people, myself included, have used all manner of product for much, much longer than that with no ill effects. Check your makeup out and test it before you pitch it. Especially if you stored your makeup in a dark, cool, dry place, it can last for eons.
Maybe treat yourself to some new brushes though!
If it smells weird or is a different color chunk it
I’d be careful with mascara, which normally you should replace every 6 months or something. But also Foundation. I had my Physicians Formula healthy foundation for around a year, a little more, and it started to make my face break out. Even though the scent and texture were all the same as usual :c very sad.
Check the scent and texture of other products but it’s probably fine.
I’d say mascara and foundation but other than that you’re probably fine
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Usually on the packaging they have expiration dates! It will say 6M or 12M, etc.. the “M” stands for months. I have definitely kept and used makeup longer than that date though!
Overall though I say treat yourself and slowly phase out old makeup!
You probably want to ditch everything that’s liquid. I would also ditch eyeliner. Lipstick is probably safe. Eyeshadow is safe after a couple years but you want to sterilize it with some rubbing alcohol. Sometimes I use a spray bottle and I just spray down my eyeshadows once they start to get a little old. Makeup has expiration dates on it but it’s a really tiny symbol. Anything liquid you want to ditch after 6-12 months