How to tell if your makeup is expired

There is this whole misconception that makeup does not expire. As much as we would like to keep our favorite mascaras and luminous foundations forever, the sad truth is that they do go rancid.

It is especially important to keep an eye on the expiry and production dates because using expired makeup can actually be quite hazardous to your skin.

Once you open your product, it is automatically exposed to air, which, as an effect, exposes it to bacteria. And over time, the product’s resistance to bacteria becomes weaker. The molecules in these products break down and become something else, which can cause different kinds of irritations. Using expired makeup can cause adult acne, redness, dry patches, excessive oiliness, eye infections, swelling, rashes, blisters, and even sun damage.

But don’t worry! This doesn’t happen overnight. Beauty products have preservatives, which fight against bacteria and allow makeup to last longer. However, keep an eye out for all-natural makeup products as they don’t contain any preservatives and thus are prone to expiring much faster.

So, how will you know if your beauty products have gone rancid? No worries, I’m here to help you know the shelf life of your products and how to tell if they have gone bad.

• Mascara – Mascara tubes are heaven for bacteria, so naturally these are the fastest to expire. Mascaras usually last around three months. If you notice that your mascaras are starting to clump up and have a weird smell, it’s time to toss it out. Remember to never share mascara. This can easily cause cross-contamination.

• Liquid foundation and concealer – Liquid foundations and concealers can last from six to 12 months, depending on if they are water-based or oil-based. Oil-based concealers last longer than water-based ones. You will know your foundation has expired if it becomes lighter, changes in texture, and most commonly starts to separate into different layers. This is when you know you have to buy a new one. Remember, keep your foundations away from the sun, as UV rays will make your product break down and expire faster.

• Lipsticks and glosses – Surprisingly enough, lipsticks last for two years, while glosses only last for one year. If you notice your lipstick starting to become dry when you apply it and it smells funny, like a crayon, then you know it’s gone bad. If your gloss is super-sticky, it means that it’s gone past its prime.

• Nail polish – Nail polish normally has a shelf life of two years. As with foundation, if you notice that your nail polish has separated into different layers, then it’s no good to use anymore. Also, if you apply your nail polish and notice that it is quite difficult to blend, then it has definitely become rancid.

• Perfume – Most makeup seems to go bad within a year or two, but not perfume! So while you can say perfume has an amazing shelf life of around  eight to 10 years, that doesn’t mean you can leave it anywhere. When perfume is left in a place that has a lot of sunlight, this causes the perfume to oxidize, which sucks away its shelf life. So, to maximize the life of your perfume, keep it in a cool, dark, place. This will allow your perfume to retain its smell and color.

I know it might be hard to throw away makeup, especially ones that we haven’t used a lot or have grown attached to, but as heartbreaking as it is, your skin will thank you for it.