Hey girls!
I don’t know if you are like me but when a new year rolls around I really enjoy cleaning things out that I just never used in the previous year and organizing things, putting them where they go. Well today I’m going to tell you when to toss your old makeup…I know it’s hard to do, trust me I’m like the hoarder of all things beauty…hence my blog. But it’s gotta be done. Let’s get this thing started.
When To Toss Your Old Makeup:
// You are probably thinking that makeup and beauty products should last a long time because it’s not something we are digesting like food. But old makeup that sits on the skin can cause skin irritation and even infections…gross. And the lesser of the evils, the products just stop working as good as they used to. They can become gloppy or streaky when applied.
// You know how most food we buy at the grocery store has expiration dates on it telling us when to toss them. Well makeup and beauty products don’t really do that, but if you will notice some products have a little jar symbol/icon with a number inside…the number indicates how long it will last you after it has been opened. For my I typically just ballpark it, like if something isn’t working as well and I remember having it a long time…I toss it, even if it’s like my favorite makeup EVER. I would rather buy a new one than get a breakout or something..
// If you are super organized or OCD you can make a little chart of your products and when you should throw them away based on the number on the jar. Keep it where you apply your makeup and you are bound to never use old makeup. :)
Below is a list of products and how long they last after you’ve opened them. (This list is from PopSugar).
Mascara // 1 year
Foundation // 1 year
Concealer // 12-18 months
Powder // 18 months
Blush/Bronzer // 18 months
Cream Blush // 12-18 months
Eye shadow // 18 months
Eye liner // 18 months
Liquid Liner // 6 months
Lipstick/gloss // 18 months
Lip liner // 1 year
Nail Polish // 1 year
Makeup Sponges // 1 month after washing them after each use.
// Also use your own judgement… like for me I know good and well my Urban Decay original Naked palette is still in amazing shape, it’s not causing me to breakout and get eye infections and it’s still really pigmented and I’ve had it well over 18 months… So, I’m going to keep using it.
// This isn’t just for makeup though…the same rules apply for skincare, hair, and body products like lotions. Most of those will have the same jar symbol with a number inside as well. Que example below… It says to throw it out after 12 months, and honestly I’ve had this for about 3 years or so… and I never really used it. I kept it so long because I felt bad for not using it, and didn’t want to throw it out (it’s a vicious cycle).
This moisturizer used to be white…and it now smells foul. I know if I put that on my face, I would breakout. So I tossed it.
Do you throw away your makeup/beauty products regularly or keep them just because you love the product?
So, umm, none of these involve keeping anything for 16 years (my fave lipstick in the absolute perfect shade given to me by my grandma) or 9+ years (almost anything else I have)? I don’t like the feeling of makeup on my skin, so I only wear it for special occasions or sometimes a date. Maybe 10 times a year? I was thinking it wasn’t a big deal to keep it if I wasn’t using often and had clean brushes, but never really thought about introducing bacteria into the container. I guess I should be tossing a whole ton of stuff when I get home from work tonight then!
As for knowing the toss date, you might like the method I use for food: I write the toss by date on the container with a sharpie or on a piece of masking tape when I open it so I can know when to purge things. For example leftovers are safe for 5 days, so I’d write 1/21/15 on it today and then toss it next Wed. if it wasn’t eaten.
Aww haha 16 and 9 years is a long time, but if you don’t think it’s causing you any harm, or breakouts then I say keep using it. If it works go with it. You kind of just have to be your own judge with these types of things! But you know throwing something out like that, that you have had for years will maybe open you up to trying all kinds of new types of makeup and colors. So it could end up being a win! :)
And that is a great idea about writing on the actual product. That could definitely help keep track!
I use most of my beauty products before they expire, but I am at the point where I need to buy a new blush I think…I just can’t decide what to replace it with!!!
Good for you!! That’s hard to do! :)
I am actually doing a blush review on Thursday this week, so come back for that. But my favorite blushes are by Tarte, or MAC. :)
this is so handy! I always wonder about this and now i have somewhere to refer back to if I forget! thank you! :)
Thank you! Yea it’s a great tool to have when you think something maybe old but you aren’t sure! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
i started this a little last month and really need to get it in gear for 2015!
Haha I know a new year= time to get it in gear! :)
Great post, looks like I need to check out my make up hehe ixox
http://www.rainbowsandunicornsblog.co.uk/
Haha mine can definitely get out of hand from time to time! :)
That is so helpful! I didn’t realize I should be tossing things out as I go so much! I will definitely go through and check that out!
You are so welcome!! Hey throwing it out means you get to buy more too! :)
I just did some spring cleaning the other day and got rid of a bunch of old makeup. I’m so bad about keeping products I don’t use often for wayyyyy too long. It feels wrong to throw it away when it’s not gone yet. I finally did it, though!
Once you actually do it, it feels good doesn’t it!? But it can be super hard to part with things. Like the moisturizer I showed in the post, it was given to me at a spa day when my sister and I won a trip to Miami a few years ago and it was expensive and I didn’t want to throw it out because of the price. But I knew I wasn’t using it and every time I opened it, it just looked gross. I knew it was way overdue!
As hard as it is to toss my good stuff, I am just like you! I would much rather buy a new one! Thanks for the helpful tips, Anna!
I know it can definitely be hard, but I think it’s so worth it in the long run! Glad I could help!! :)
I have the hardest time throwing out makeup!! Great post
I know, it can definitely be hard especially if it’s a favorite! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
Oh goodness… I’m so bad at this! Especially with nail polish and eyeshadow– who can go through those products so fast?! I have convinced myself though that I don’t need to buy any more products until I actually start finishing the ones that I have… hoarding so many of them just means more are spoiling and going to waste! Thanks for this awesome post, Anna!
Girl nail polish is definitely an enemy of mine as well. I have so many bottles I can’t go through them all before they expire and I just feel bad throwing them away after a certain amount of time. I do have some super obvious bottles that I have definitely had to toss because they were so separated and just gross. That’s a great idea…you should try a Project 10 Pan, I did a whole post about it a while back, here is the link
Thanks so much girl! :)
This is something I am SO bad at! If the product looks ‘off’ or smells weird, I’ll definitely throw it away. Your list is actually pretty reasonable — especially with mascara. I’ve often seen people say throw out mascara after 3 months and…I just can’t do that! lol! I just always feel like my mascara has so much more life left in it after 3 months. :-)
Anywho, all that to say….very informative and useful post! Thank you! I am new to your blog — love it! — and I just followed you, so I’ll be back!! ;-)
Yea I’ve always heard to throw mascara out after 3 months, but I think that’s because they may become drier after 3 months. I always use my mascara way longer than 3 months because I usually just don’t want to throw it away just yet.
Thanks so much for checking out my posts and following my blog!! I hope you enjoy it! :)
I recently learned about the expiration dates from my hair dresser. I had no idea! Also, I am in the same boat as you with eye shadow, but other things? I may need to toss :/
Yea with eye shadow I don’t feel like it gets too old. If it isn’t a very good quality eye shadow it may just not work well or something when it’s old. But all of mine are just fine for now! :)