How long cosmetics expire

We're all guilty of it-but it's time to make a change. Not only are all of those past-their-prime grooming products taking up valuable space in your medicine cabinet or makeup bag; using old tools and makeup could actually result in dangerous skin and eye irritations.

In fact, a recent UK study found that 90 percent of beauty products -particularly sponge makeup blenders-are riddled with potentially "deadly superbugs," including E. Exposure to these unwelcome bacteria which thrive in damp environments-aka makeup sponges and lipstick tubes can lead to things like skin infection and blood poisoning, at worst.

All this is to say, you need to know exactly what to throw out , and when. To be fair, it's hard to tell what a product's expiration date is, because it's not quite as clear as it is for food products, which are typically stamped with a "sell by" or "best by" date.

To make matters more confusing, some products simply don't suggest any expiration date. The short answer is: They should be good for a few years. Brown agreed that being exposed to air is the biggest issue. And if you forget when you opened a product versus not opening it just yet , there are a few ways you can prevent expiration date confusion in the future! Or, try adding the date you opened it to your phone calendar. Tasha Brown.

The same smell test works for your hair products, too. Want to extend the shelf life of your beauty products? Help them do their job by storing them in the right spot. Heat from the sun can warp the rubber curling pad. Treat your products with kid gloves to keep them fresh for as long as possible, too. For extra safety, try wiping down the opening of your tubes or jars around the neck or rim to clean any excess product off and prevent bacteria from growing.

Products like mascaras, eyeliners and lipsticks will last longer if you keep them to yourself. Last but not least, make sure to securely close the lids of products you are using, especially ones that live in the humid shower! IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Makeup does have an expiration date, though, and its lifespan may be shorter than you think.

All makeup expires eventually, usually within 2 years of purchase and sometimes as little as 3 months for eye makeup. The expiration dates you see printed on makeup or on the packaging are guidelines for after the product has been opened. Generally, if properly stored in a cool, dry place, most unopened and completely sealed makeup should last for 2 to 3 years. With that said, creamier products that contain oils or butters, like cream concealers or liquid blushes, could turn earlier because oil can go rancid.

If the product is a natural makeup formulation without a strong preservative, it may also go bad, even if sealed. All preservatives in makeup do break down over time, even if the product is unopened, so you should never keep any product for more than 3 years. Products like lip liner or eyeliner pencils may have a longer expiration because they can be sharpened.

To be sure your makeup lasts as long as it should, wash your hands before applying, clean your makeup brushes regularly, and avoid sharing. Expired makeup may become dry or crumbly, and you should never use water or saliva to moisten it, as it can introduce bacteria. Color pigments may not look as vibrant and powders may seem packed down and hard to use. All makeup should be stamped with an image of an open jar, then a number followed by the letter M.

Mascara and other eye makeup has a shorter shelf life and may be stamped with a 6M, for example, and concealer is usually around 12M. Fragrance may last as long as 5 years. I wouldn't know either. There are way too many things to remember for this to be something most people keep track of. So the first step is to get in the habit of adding a piece of masking tape or other label to your makeup packaging when you open it, writing down the date you began using it.

If you do this then from now on there won't be any guess work when figuring out if something should be tossed for being too old. I've shared general guidelines below, but I'll be honest. The guidelines suggested, even by experts in the industry, can vary widely although there is some general consensus. Part of the reason for that is different makeup and cosmetic products contain different ingredients, and those recipe differences can make a difference in how long something will last.

While manufacturers are not required to put an expiration date on cosmetic packaging these days many do. Look on the bottom or side of your package and often you'll see a little symbol that looks like an opened pot. Inside this symbol will be a number, such as 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, or 24, and a letter.

M stands for months, Y stands for years. If inside the symbol it says 6M then you know, for example, that 6 months after the makeup is opened it will expire. Simple enough.