Did you know makeup can go off? Here's how to tell if your makeup has expired and how long different types of makeup last once they're open.
Foundation and Concealer
Liquid and cream foundations and concealers can last between 6 to 12 months.
Two clear signs your product might be expired are if the ingredients have started to separate and if the finish or consistency has changed.
Regularly shaking your foundation before use is a good way to ensure the ingredients are mixed together.
Powders
Most people don't realise but powder products can expire too.
Powders should last up to 2 years and you should throw yours out if you can see a hard rim around the edge of the powder that might also be discoloured.
You can protect your powders by making sure your brushes are cleaned regularly and always closing the lids of the products as it's not good for powders to be exposed to air for too long.
Lipsticks
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Lipsticks can last up to 2 years as long you keep the lid on them.
If your lipstick has developed a weird smell or the texture has changed is dried out or chalky you should throw it out.
You can protect your lipstick by ensuring you never leave it sat out with the lid off for long periods of time and using a lip brush to apply the product as it is more hygenic.
Liquid Eyeliner
Liquid eyeliner has a short shelf life, between 4 to 6 months. If the product dries out, changes smell, colour or texture you should throw it out immediately.
As the eyes are a very sensitive area you can protect them from potential germs or bacteria by cleaning the brush or tip of the liner often, ideally after each use.
Mascara
Mascara has a shelf life of between 3-6 months depending on usage. If you wear mascara every day you should throw it out after 3 months if you only wear it occasionally you can throw it out after 6 months.
If your mascara dries out or changes texture or smell you should throw it away immediately and if you're the type of person who pumps the mascara wand in the tube you need to stop.
Doing so forces air into the tube which not only dries out the mascara but can cause bacteria to contaminate it.
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A good rule of thumb for makeup is to just throw a product out if you're not sure how old it is. It may be difficult if it's a product you love but you never want to risk potentially hurting yourself with expired makeup.
