shelf life of beauty products
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:34 am Quote

I was Googling this morning and found this on the About.com website. I thought it was helpful, so posting it here in case anyone might be interested....

"Here's a quick guide on the shelf lives of typical beauty products, listed in alphabetical order...Please keep in mind that these are estimates...

Concealer Up to 12 months.
Powder 2 years.
Cream & gel cleansers 1 year.
Eye liner Should be sharpened regularly. Will last up to 3 years.
Eyeshadow Will also last up to 3 years. Extra tip: A dark eyeshadow can double as eyeliner, in fact, most makeup artists swear by eyeshadow used as eyeliner. You'll need a super-flat eyeliner brush for this (MAC & Aveda have the best brushes). Get the brush a little damp & dab in dark eyeshadow (black, brown or deep jewel-tones work great). Wiggle the brush into your lash line focusing on the space between your lashes, then sweep the color just above your lash line.
Brushes Wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent
Sponges Wash weekly & discard monthly
Foundation Check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker & one for winter when you're lighter. Extra tip: If your water-based foundation dries out before it's expiry date, simply add a few drops of alcohol-free toner & shake to get rid of clumps. No need to do this to oil-based foundations. Because they contain oil, they will tend to separate. You have to shake anyway.
Lip liner Up to 3 years. Extra tip: Skip the push-up lipliners. They're expensive, tend to break & you never really know how much you have left until you run out. No need to spend money on lip liners, there's no secret to greatness for this product. Save your money for powders & foundation.
Lipstick Some experts say 1-2 years. Others say up to 4 years. What everyone agrees on is that if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. Extra tip: If you store lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer. Bonus tip: Want your lipstick to last longer during the day? Shade in lips with lip liner before applying lipstick.
Mascara This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in & out, you're only exposing the product to drying air.
Nail Polish Up to 12 months, depending on the quality & how many times you take it on a plane (the cap always unscrews on me during flights, leaving my purse a -- fume-y -- mess!)"

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:22 am Quote

Thanks, Marci. Most of these things last longer than I expected.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:32 am Quote

Thanks Marci, great info! I only use Mascara once a while, within 4 months maybe i only use 5 times, it's a big waste of money.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:38 am Quote

I think it can be a YMMV thing also. I'm sure there are people who can use a mascara for 5-6 months with no problem... and I can't go 3+ months between washing makeup brushes without having breakouts Very Happy

The article caught my interest since I figured "out with the old, in with the new" for my makeup, too. I know there are things in my drawer that I once loved and was keeping around just in case I decided to re-love them (after several years!) Since the spirit didn't move me after all this time to use the items again, into the trash they went.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:19 am Quote

Thanks for posting this Marci - interesting info!

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:57 am Quote

Mascara lasts longer the less you "dip." I try to use it on both eyes with one dip (meaning, the first time I take it out of the tube when I apply). It will turn bad faster if you pump your brush up and down (a habit I picked up from Mum). I always replace my mascara once it starts to smell funny...which is usually 3-4 months. But I use it every day so sometimes I've got to replace it sooner since it runs out.

I'm thinking maybe the same thing for lip glosses. I recently found a gloss I bought six months ago, I used it every day for two weeks when I first purchased it...I put it on and it tasted TERRIBLE, very strange and icky smell as well...I knew it went bad because I did NOT buy it that way.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:00 am Quote

good info. I tend to stock up... now I know how long I should keep them

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:27 am Quote

great info must check my nail polish have them for years only wear polish occassionally since I discovered nail hardener that has glossy finish and wears away gradually. Never had lip liner for more than 3 months as I find it impossible to get a tip on it with pencil topper.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:29 pm Quote

Hi Marcy. Thanks for the information. I keep some things too long.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:55 pm Quote

thanks for the info

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:38 pm Quote

Thanks for that, I just realised I have a few lipglosses & things that I've had for over 4 years now. Confused

ooops!

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:44 pm Quote

thank.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:56 pm Quote

Thanks for the list! You know, I have ALOT of makeup that is "past-due" according to the list. Mostly eye shadows and some blushes. Mascara is the only thing I usually throw out after about 4 months. I guess if something doesn't look like it has "turned" and the consistency still seems OK, it should be OK to use. I have this MAC eye shadow that's probably 5 - 6 years old and it still seems as good as new. I'm so bad with all my makeup too, because I have SOOOO much (I get bored so easy and am easily enticed by pretty new packaging Very Happy

). I rarely ever finish anything, except for most of my lipsticks. And about every 6 months I'll go through my stash and get rid of all the things I know for sure I won't be returning to.

enjoys freebies · Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:08 pm Quote

Thanks....you sould make one for skincare too, could be really helpfull !

enjoys freebies · Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:55 am Quote

thanks a lot. That's great

enjoys freebies · Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:07 am Quote

Thanks

I have had my mascara for a year. lol

enjoys freebies · Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:34 pm Quote

Just posting back that I ditched 2 of my old favorite lipsticks today -- I had been using them for a while and today I noticed that they smelled like old stinky crayons and went on very thick and waxy. After hitting the trash, I looked at my first post -- and I know for sure that they were *at least* 1-2 years old. Ick. I can't believe that I didn't get rid of them sooner; they had been suspect for a while and it didn't register.

enjoys freebies · Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:27 pm Quote

Very helpful.

enjoys freebies · Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:02 pm Quote

Just thought I would throw this in just incase someone didn't know; nowadays a lot products have a little picture on it indicating shelf life.
Look for a picture of jar with the lid open, it will say "12", "24", etc. The placement isn't always the same so on some products you have to look for it.
Example: My PTR Buffing Beads say "24" on it.
Hope this helps someone!

enjoys freebies · Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:34 pm Quote

Thanks, this is very useful information. I was just wondering how long I've had some of my creams. I have a terrible habit of trying new things before I finish up the product. I still have samples of Sisley products that are not opened (small packages). Is it safe to assume the expiration dates apply only to things that have been opened? These packages are still sealed tightly and I haven't used/opened it yet.

enjoys freebies · Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:56 am Quote

dalguy wrote:

Just thought I would throw this in just incase someone didn't know; nowadays a lot products have a little picture on it indicating shelf life.
Look for a picture of jar with the lid open, it will say "12", "24", etc. The placement isn't always the same so on some products you have to look for it.
Example: My PTR Buffing Beads say "24" on it.
Hope this helps someone!

Well, it definitely helped me! Very Happy

I've seen that and had no clue what it meant. Thanks for mentioning this!

enjoys freebies · Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:55 pm Quote

Due to the question about the shelf life of perfume, I found this additional list from this website:
http://www.joseibi.com/store/view_article.asp?idArticle=38

I've formatted the list to be post-friendly. I have not checked this list against the one in my first post, so it's possible there is conflicting info, since they are from different sources.

"Below is a table of information regarding the shelf-life of your beauty products:

Mascara, eyelash curler pads -- 3 months
Never fool around with anything that touches your eyelashes/eyes!

Eye gels and creams -- 3 months
Daily exposure to air and germs makes this the most contaminated product.

Liquid foundations (cream and liquid) -- 3 - 6 months
Cream foundation in a jar should be tossed every 3 months.
Concealers (cream and liquid) 3 months To extend its shelf life, wash your concealer brush after each use.

Natural body cleansers -- 6 months
Most of the time, you use them up long before the toss date anyway!

Face creams and lotions -- 6 months
Not only are they prone to bacteria growth through daily exposure, most moisturizers contain antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C & E, which are very sensitive to light and lose potency very quickly.

Eye shadows, eyeliners (liquid, pencil) -- 6 months
Your eyes are the most infection-prone area of your face. Better safe than sorry!

Toners and essences -- 1 year
Even if you can keep bacteria growth to a minimum (we don't know how), the potency of most of the active ingredients in toners and essences, especially Vitamin C and AHAs is lost after a year or so.

Powders (pressed, loose) and blushes (powder) -- 1 year
Try washing your makeup brush after each use--it will prolong the life of your powdered products. For cream blushes, toss after 3 months.

Lipsticks -- 1 year
Colors will change after a year or so, even if you keep them in a cool, dark place. Ladies who keep theirs in a purse should know that body heat and outdoor/indoor heat will also affect the consistency of lipsticks. (check for humid drops on the lipsticks)

Face wash (cleansing oil, foam or gel cleanser) -- 1 - 2 years
Unless you wash your face once a week, your face wash will usually be depleted after 3 months. But of all the beauty products, face wash lasts the longest after opening.

Perfume and fragrances -- 1 year
Even if you use them once a week and keep them in a cool, dark place, the scent or fragrance will only stay intact for a year. To keep the fragrance from changing before the toss date, keep the perfume inside its own original box in a cool, dark place.

The best ways to preserve your beauty products to maximize their shelf life are:

Keep them in a cool, dry and dark place away from sunlight, humidity and heat (that means away from your bathroom); Wash your hands thoroughly prior to using any cosmetics or skin care products. Try not to double-dip.
Wash your makeup brushes and sponges/puffs after each use.
If your cream comes in a big jar, you can sterilize several small containers and put the cream into the smaller containers. Use a sterile utensil to distribute the cream.
Try not to carry too many products with you in your handbag. Body heat and indoor heating can change the consistency and even color of the products."

enjoys freebies · Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:15 pm Quote

Thanks for taking the time to post all that. It has some great guidelines. Smile

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