Personally, I get fairly attached to a lot of my makeup. There's a lot of, "Oh, I got that eyeshadow palette as a reward for scoring a new client!", or "That lipstick is from when I finally decided to go red!", going on in my brain.
But that doesn't mean it's okay to keep expired makeup. Not only do cosmetics accumulate tons of bacteria over time, they also simply don't work as well.
As I do every year, I've written up a little guide to assist you ladies with this very sad task. Trust me--I know how emotional it can be, and I fully support having some kind of celebratory ceremony in honor of what you throw out.
Here are the facts broken down:
Lip Color
Your lipsticks and glosses are only good for two years before it’s time to toss them. Any longer than that, and they'll start to look and feel cakey and heavy on your lips. Not flattering.
Mascara
Sadly, mascara is only good for a few months before it’s time to get rid of it. To make it lwork its very best, be sure to pull out the wand in one straight out motion rather than pumping it. Pumping the wand up and down will trap air and bacteria in the tube. After about three months (whether you pump or not) your mascara will start to dry out and become clumpy.
Foundation
Liquid foundations will stay good for about one year and powder for about two years after opening them. After that you will find that it’s lacking in the coverage department. You may notice with older foundations that the color may have started to change a little and look a little yellow or orange.
Blush, Bronzers and Eye Shadow
Depending on the product, you will find that after a year or two (it’s a broad range, I know) you will find that your blushes, bronzers and shadows will begin to harden up and the color won’t go on as smoothly and nicely as it used to. That's your cue to toss it.
Eyeliner
Liquid liner is pretty prone to microbial growth and is it’s smart to treat it the same as mascara--it’s only good for about three months, then it’s time to replace it. A pencil liner on the other hand, can last up to three years (make sure to sharpen it between uses), but it too will eventually become crumbly or stiff.
As for anything else? If you’re still not sure if your makeup is good or bad (I mean, who really keeps track of how old a tube of lipstick is?) ask yourself these questions:
Does it smell funny? Toss it.
Has the color changed? Toss it.
Has the consistency changed? Toss it.
Hope that helps! And the best thing about throwing out old makeup, is that it makes room for some fun new purchases, which are completely necessary and very important (as far as my boyfriend knows)!