We get the following question about products almost every day. Therefore, please read this again for the answers. Ever wonder how long you can keep your cosmetics? Yes, all your cosmetics products have a shelf life. Even the Food and Drug Administration has something to say about how long it is safe to keep makeup.

“Cosmetic products are generally formulated and tested for a shelf life of 1-3 years under normal storage conditions, depending on a product’s composition, packaging, preservation, and other factors. Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply ‘rules of thumb’ and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored are those that have been exposed to high temperatures or sunlight. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.” Water-based foundations will last for up to one year and an oil-based for a year and a half. 

Concealer can be kept up to a year and face powder can be kept up to two years. Blush is good up to six months and gel cleansers and creams for a year. Eyeliners can last for a period of three years, but should be sharpened often to remove bacteria that can stay on the stick. Eyeshadow can last for three years and mascara needs to be thrown out after three or four months. Lip liner lasts for three years, but lipstick specialists think some lipstick is good for only a year and others for 3-4 years. You will know lipstick is bad if it has a funny smell. Nail polish can be tricky in that if stored properly it can last for two years. You can store nail polish in the refrigerator. In the end, use common sense and your own discretion about when to dispose of cosmetics. It is very easy for contaminants and bacteria to find their way into makeup products, therefore be careful. By the way, thanks for reading these articles and for the great interest them.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed