Happy New Year, dolls! On this Makeup Monday I wanted to tackle a question I’m asked all the time: “When should I throw out my makeup?” I hope many of you recieved new goodies to try! If you did and now aren’t sure what to throw out, here’s your guide for 2013! Tip: Start marking your calendars when you get new makeup, so you know when to toss it.
Face Makeup, Blush, & Bronzers
Toss-it time: 6 months for liquids; 2 years for powders
The reason: You increase the odds of bacterial growth — and, hence, of breakouts or irritation — when you repeatedly dip your brushes and fingers into liquid foundation. Also, as it ages, foundation can go on unevenly, creating a streaky, inconsistent finish. Oils rise to the top, and the consistency thickens. Powders present less of a problem because bacteria can’t grow where there’s no water. However, over time, powders with botanical ingredients like aloe or jojoba can become harder to blend and are more likely to crumble, as their trace amounts of water evaporate.
Mascara
Toss-it time: 3-6 months
The reason: A mascara tube is a dark, wet environment — the perfect breeding ground for bacteria since preservatives in a mascara only work for so long. You can even developed a sty from a mascara wand. Plus, three-month-old mascara is a nonperformer. It’s chalky and powdery, and any lengthening or thickening fibers often separate from the fluid, so the mascara stops going on in a smooth, even coat. To avoid hastening the demise of your mascara, never pump the wand — that pushes air into the tube, causing it to dry out faster. Instead, slowly draw out and twist the brush to scrape the tube’s interior and pick up product.
Eyeliner and Eye Shadow
Toss-it time: Liquid eyeliners, 3-6 months; cream eye shadows, 8-12 months; pencil eyeliners and powder eye shadows, 2 years
The reason: As they do with mascara, bacteria tend to flourish in liquid-eyeliner tubes, and the product dries out. Pencil eyeliners have a longer shelf life because you can create a fresh, clean surface each time you sharpen them. (Just be sure to regularly sanitize your sharpener with rubbing alcohol or Beauty So Clean.) Powder shadows, like pressed powders, are less prone to contamination because they, too, lack water. If you wet shadows for intensity, toss after six months. But aging eye shadows have performance issues: They get packed down, making it harder to pick up pigment with your brush.
Lipstick, Lipliner, and GLOSS
Toss-it time: Lipstick, lipliner & gloss, 2 years
The reason: Lipsticks’ & gloss’ water content makes them potential mini reservoirs of bacteria. No surprise, they also dry out with age. Long-wearing formulas may have an even shorter life span since they often contain ingredients that evaporate more quickly than creamier formulas.
I hope this guide helps when cleaning out the old & bringing in the NEW! Until next time dolls!
xo- Jules