Did you know using expired makeup can cause havoc to your skin? Makeup isn’t designed to last forever. Yes, just like food products, makeup products have an expiry date too. You would eventually have to get rid of your favourite lip colour or nail polish just because it has passed the expiry date. Expired beauty products can cause infection and breakouts. However, there are some simple and easy ways to know when your favorite products retire and it’s goodbye time.
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1. Changes colour
If your makeup product has oxidised, it will change colour. A change in colour is a sure way to know that the product has expired and has also been affected with bacteria. -
2. Smells weird
Smell is a distinct indicator that your makeup has gone bad. For instance, if your mascara has a fowl gasoline kind of smell, it’s time to get a new one. -
3. Changes texture
If your product originally has a creamy texture, it is supposed to maintain that through its shelf-life. If you notice a change in texture while applying it, it’s time you dispose it. -
4. Forms clumps
Liquid products are supposed to be LIQUID. Period. They aren’t supposed to be clumpy. If you notice clumps during the application, it could be a sign of bacteria and it’s time to toss the product into the bin. -
5. Forms a layer
It’s not just liquid or cream-based makeup products that have an expiry date. Your powder products get expired too and are not safe to use anymore when a grey chalky film forms on top. -
6. Forms white spots
If you notice a white spot on the tip of your lip liner or eyeliner pencil, that cannot be sharpened as well, it means the pencil has expired. -
The shelf life of different beauty products is different. There’s a tiny Period After Opening (PAO) symbol on the label – which most people don’t even notice – that tells you for how long you can use your product after you’ve opened it. Look for the symbol to understand how long a product is safe to use after it has been opened. A good trick to do is to set a reminder on your phone about the expiry.
Here’s a quick estimate of how your cosmetics will serve you to the optimum:
Mascara: 3-6 months
Eyeliner, brow pencil and lip liner: 6 months to one year
Lip gloss: 1 year
Foundation: 6 months to two years
Blush, bronzer, eye shadow and powders: 1-2 years
Lipstick and nail polish: 2 years
Perfume: 8-10 years
Eyeliner, brow pencil and lip liner: 6 months to one year
Lip gloss: 1 year
Foundation: 6 months to two years
Blush, bronzer, eye shadow and powders: 1-2 years
Lipstick and nail polish: 2 years
Perfume: 8-10 years
Quick tip
If the formula in your liquid product has separated, shake it well. If the product blends back together, you’re good to use the product yet. But if the formula of the product has given up, you should give it up too.
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