Makeup Expiration Dates

Beauty Alert Stickers: When Should You Toss Old Cosmetics Anyway?

Posted by: Leonora Epstein Filed in: style
11:29AM, Thursday September 24th 2009

Part of the fun of makeup is getting to buy new products to add to your collection, and feeling satisfaction in having an array of choices and colors to use. If you’re like me, this means you like to buy pretty eyeshadows that you rarely use but keep around “just in case” you’re in the mood to do that ice blue liner thing you saw in last month’s Elle. Hello arsenal of teeny compacts, samples, and lip glosses for the masses! But still, I don’t like to part with any of these. I tend to keep them around.

If you’re the type who hordes makeup as well, you probably don’t pay too much attention to throwing out your products when you’re supposed to. Or, perhaps you don’t even consider that keeping things around for years is harmful, in which case you may want to check out these Beauty Alert stickers, which will remind you when to chuck out-of-date items (or just force you to do some cosmetic spring cleaning). And here’s why it’s important ...

The pack of Beauty Alert stickers comes tailored for specific products (because off the top of your head, do you really know what the shelf life of eyeliner is?) like lipstick, blush/bronzer, liquid eyeliner, sunscreen (that’s an important one), cream eyeshadow, and hair styling products. Just write the date of first use and slap the label on. [$8.50 per pack, BeautyAlert.biz via Inventor Spot]

If this reminded you to make an assessment of the makeup you’ve had around for a while, here’s a little refresher course on the dangers of old cosmetics:

Why? Out-of-date items harbor bacteria which can cause infections or rashes—particular culprits are eye products like mascara and liquid liner. There’s a greater risk with the ones you’ve applied with your fingertips or repeatedly dipped makeup brushes in without cleaning. Also: In creams and hair products, the chemical formula begins to break down over time.

When? The one item to really replace regularly is mascara, which starts to go bad after three months. Next after that is foundation, twice a year or so. Lipsticks are fine for a year.

How? When you’re ready to toss a product, check the brand’s website to see if they have any recycling incentives. Then you can do the environment a favor and get something fun back in return ... to add to your collection.

[Also, um, you could probably accomplish the same thing with blank file stickers that cost way less.—Editor]

comments

skywalk
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 10:38 am: [report]

My problem is I only wear make-up maybe five times a year, but the average is more like 3. So I buy it and barely use it.

*sam*
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 10:39 am: [report]

Ugh, I’m terrible at “hording” make up. I hardly wear it, so it never runs out. I just had to toss out a bunch of it yesterday b/c the last time I wore any (note, all I ever wear is foundation, eye liner, and mascara), I got a stye, so I realized it was time for the eye stuff to go… I just wish they came in smaller quantities so it’s not like I’m throwing out a practically full tube of mascara and a whole eye liner pencil every time. :(

skywalk
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 10:41 am: [report]

@*Sam*: that’s my make up stash as well & marscara would be pushing most of time

*sam*
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 10:45 am: [report]

@skywalk: haha! exactly. I’ll wear foundation whenever I’m going out somewhere (that isn’t the grocery store) and eye liner for work, sometimes. Mascara is only used if I’m feeling “extra frisky” or for a “special occasion” lol

treehugr
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 11:03 am: [report]

a bit of a waste of money. I get blank sticky labels for my mascara and I write down the date of the day I open it. None of the other make-up I use ever stays around long enough, so mascara is the only thing I bother to keep track of. (but I also wear make up every day)

Chebs
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 11:40 am: [report]

Meh, I usually just put on a moisturizer with sunscreen and maybe some concealer or powder on top. Every once in awhile, I get the urge to try to wear more make-up and I go buy a bunch of stuff, but it never lasts. Too much of a hassle for me. I tossed a bunch of eye shadows, lipsticks, and blush the other day. But it seems like it would be cheaper and easier to buy a roll of masking tape and write dates on it with pen or Sharpie.

Katrina
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 11:59 am: [report]

My problem is that I actually do wear makeup every day, but then I’m 3/4 of the way through it when it expires…so I do need to buy the size that I do, but then I’m still throwing some away.

That being said, I still haven’t found the right mascara for me, so I get a chance to try a new kind every 3 months

remembercedricdiggory
wrote on September 24 2009 @ 04:14 pm: [report]

I know it’s terrible, but I pretty much refuse to throw out makeup. It’s because of how bad a makeup hoarder I am…But I feel so good inside when I finish off a container of product!