Still using the same eyeshadow palette since high school? Well, if you needed an excuse to buy more makeup, this is it. Aside from your products losing their efficacy, if you don’t pay attention to beauty product expiration dates you run the risk of skin irritations, dermatitis, allergic reactions and infection.
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If you can’t bear the thought of parting with those palettes that you’ve been holding onto for years, there might still be hope. Here’s everything you need to know about beauty product expiration dates – including which ones you really need to follow.
How to tell when your beauty products are expired
Most of your beauty products will expire eventually, but how soon depends on factors such as preservatives, ingredients, antioxidants, packaging and where you store your products. And if you love natural beauty products, you need to be extra cautious as they expire far quicker than other products due to the lack of preservatives. Firstly, you can check the expiry date by looking for either the pot logo with how many months until it expires on it, or look for the exact month and year printed on the packaging (it looks similar to the one you would find on grocery products).
No date, no problem
But what if your product doesn’t have an expiry date on it? Some products won’t have expiry dates on them depending on where they were manufactured. If you can’t find a label, here’s a general guide:
Toss 2 years after opening
- All powder products
Toss 12 months after opening
- Lipstick
- Lip gloss
- Perfumes
Toss 6 months after opening
- Moisturisers
- Foundation
- Oils
- Serums
- Sunscreen
Toss 3 months after opening
- Mascara
- Liquid eyeliner
If you’re still unsure, toss any unopened products after three years and any opened products after six months.
Colour, consistency and smell
You can also test your products to see if they’re expired by looking for the three major giveaways: Colour, consistency and smell. The first thing to look for is changes in the colour of the product For example, perfume tends to go quite yellow once it’s expired. Next, check for changes in its consistency. You should be able to notice that the formula has started to separate or gone gluggy. These signs are not good. Lastly, the biggest indicator is smell. A quick whiff of an expired product is a dead giveaway as it will smell toxic or rancid.
How long have you been holding on to your oldest beauty product?
I am stricter with liquid products but I have a lot of powder products (eyeshadow, blush) that are years old. All my make-up are stored in a drawer away from light, moisture and heat. They seem so be fine.
Eeek perfume 12 months. I certainly have some that are way longer than that! Did recently throw out some mascara and some moisturiser that had separated and that scent smelt a bit rancid. I have to strategically place items in places that I know I will use more often. I have a go to makeup kit that I rotate around and it has all my essentials for the day. This year I’ve been forced into using up stocks before buying more. Priceline currently has 50% off makeup and I have to tell myself what do I really need?!
I also need to clean out my make up and beauty products
Its better to try and use your make up as much as you can before it expires
Have they seen the price of products here in Australia? Haha I’m the same I would have no makeup at all. I think as long as there is no change in color or texture I will continue using my products.
I have a foundation that I bought worth $100, do you think I would throw that never until it is finished haha.
This is a good reminder to clean out my stash. Mostly my makeup items are a bit old.
Oh no! I think I need to throw out about 80% of my skincare and make up!!!
Oh man, I’m not sure I’d like to start tossing through my makeup trove.
I need to check through some of my beauty products stat!
Oh boy, have I got a lot of powdered products that I am definitely still keeping after reading this article. I wouldn’t recommend my friends try this but for myself I know I’m willing to take the risk to make my eyeshadows last just that little bit longer!
Great article I always forget about the expiry on cosmetics
Great article
My lipsticks go off quite quickly, I think it is because they are vegan?
I always do this for all my products, mascara I keep for 3 months. Other items I toss out before 12 months.
I think most of us follow our own rule of “it expires when it’s empty” hahaha. Mascaras are the main thing that needs to follow the expiry dates though imo!
Well it pays to buy in smaller containers but then you use more packaging, I often forget how long I have had them especially if they have been sitting in the cupboard. If they are not opened I think it is fine to keep them a little longer. Not all products have an expiry date, best before date or even when it was packaged.
I definitely have powder products that are older than 2 years and they still work perfectly fine!
Good article.
Nooooooo it feels like such a waste to throw out some products that I’ve barely used but I have lots to get rid off. Just shows I have way too much makeup. Also the last thing I’d want is my skin to flare up and have a reaction to an expired product. Check packaging people and do what’s best for your skin.
Omg I didn’t know mascara had an expiration date, I will have to chuck most of them out now! 🙁
So so helpful. I learnt so much in this article and didn’t realise how soon some products should be discarded.
And to be fair, a lot of the products I’ve purchased don’t actually have an expiration date on them. So this was actually super helpful
This is a fantastic article thanks so much for such detail and help 🙂
I have started putting dates on my makeup products to know when I opened them and started using them because I think 95% of my beauty products have definitely expired!
What a good idea. When I checked mine couldnt find any dates and of course I cant really remember how long ago it might have been. This seems like a habit that would be good to develop. Not worth risking health for the sake of using up old products.
Sorry, but this is consumerism gone mad! Perfume can last for many years if stored properly -even after it’s been opened – and I’m sure that applies to other make up as well. I’d probably be careful with things I put on my lips or eyes, but hand cream? Why would that be an infection risk. I think automatically throwing things out on a random date is wasteful.
Perfume does not expire unless exposed into the sun.
we would finish our expensive perfumes in a year unless you are a heavy user or you just own one!
i am a professional perfume retailer and this is true advice.
I have had my perfumes for yearsss and nothing has gone wrong with them so i wont be tossing any perfumes away.
I find I make sure I have used all the product now prior to buying a new one instead of being tempted to purchase new ones and have several different moisturisers etc and not only have I saved money but nothing has expired since I have started to do this.
One of my problems. Now retired I dont use up my products quickly enough and have a problem deciding when to toss
I’m putting a ban on myself until I have used up all my current products. My bathroom drawers are currently overflowing with beauty products.
Yes I am in the same position and now use less so I have restricted myself to basic essentials only
Yes I needed to do that as I was in same position -trying new products all the time but never finishing any
I resolve to do that too but visit a store and see something I like and just cant resist
Yes or a really good deal on something you like too !!! Well we are human -but I must admit I am better than I was
Yes the good deals do get me sucked in. Especially the gifts with purchase from brands like Clinique and Estee Lauder
Yes they all look so good until you have a drawer full. I try not to get hooked now unless I really need a product but not always easy
I need more will power
Reported spam – 1 on this page.
I am going through all of my products, using it all.
Try with one product at a time and see how you go
Good Luck Hope it works for you -You can save a lot of money if you stick to this
It’s working so far. I was so pleased to see I got through one of my Vitamin C products. Hooray!
Well done !!!!
Try on one product at a time -use all the moisturizer for example you have and don’t get sucked in until you have used last bottle
Kind of do that but still get sucked in. Also do the same with fabric buying, Tell myself I already have plenty but when I see something I like the will power goes out the window!
I get it – I have a draw full of fabrics too that were hard to resist .
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Probably have a few things I need to throw out that I don’t use anymore