Toss or Keep: When does your makeup expire?

MF editorial team

07 Jul 2015

updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:01

1/7
Lipstick/ Lip gloss
Lifespan: 2 years
When to toss: If your lipstick has become cakey and the gloss has turned more sticky than shiny. Also, the colour of the lipstick will change and there will be an odour different to the scent you’re used to.
MAC Ruby Woo lipstick, SGD 21
2/7
Mascara
Lifespan: 3 months
When to toss: As soon as it starts getting clumpy, chalky, powdery or smells weird. You’ll notice that over the years, the mascara won't glide on as smoothly as it used to.
Diorshow Blackout Mascara, SGD53
3/7
Liquid foundation/ Concealer
Lifespan: 6 months
When to toss: If the colour has noticeably lightened and the product has separated to form gooey clumps, you know it’s time for this beauty product to meet the bottom of the bin. Foundation that has gone past its expiry date will not smooth out evenly and will create a streaky, inconsistent finish.
Christian Dior DiorSnow White Reveal Fresh Transparency Liquid Foundation SPF 30, SGD84
4/7
Blush/ Powder foundation
Lifespan: 2 years
When to toss: When the powder starts getting dry and flaky with a greyish film on top. They’re also more likely to crumble and crack on the face, causing the need for re-application again and again.
Make Up For Ever Sculpting Blush Powder Blush, SGD41
5/7
Nail polish
Lifespan: 2 years
When to toss: If the polish has changed in texture and colour, and not even a good shake can change the gloopy mess that comes out.
Maybeline Express Finish Nail Polish, SGD5
6/7
Pencil eyeliner/ Lip liner
Lifespan: 3 years
When to toss: When the texture or scent changes and you see a white dot on the end that won’t go away when you sharpen the pencil. Even if all of the above don’t materialize, you know a pencil is on its way out when it's dry and starts to tug at your skin.
Etude House Play 101 Pencil Eyeliner Lip Blusher Shadow, SGD11
7/7
Face cream
Lifespan: 1 year
When to toss: Expired face creams loose their effectiveness on your skin over time. If the colour of your face cream changes from white to brown or a yellowish tinge, it's time to end your relationship with it.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, SGD47

Believe it or not, the milk in your fridge isn’t the only thing with an expiry date. Find out what are the warning signs for makeup that has reached the end of its shelf life.

A quick check of your beauty cabinet will reveal you’ve got a load of products that are way past their usage date. Unlike rotten fish or spoilt milk, makeup products don’t exhibit very obvious signs of expiration.

Believe it or not, beauty products do go bad. It may seem irrelevant but expired beauty products are a breeding ground for bacterial baddies and if you continue to use them, they can be the cause of severe irritations and infections.

Whether it’s powder blush or mascara, the preservatives of the ingredients have a shelf life as well and when they’re reached the end of their run, that’s when you find your mascara getting powdery and your lipstick having a funny odour. Find out how long your favourite beauty products last and when’s the right time to bid adieu to them for good.

Karen George

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Toss or Keep: When does your makeup expire?

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