Yes, Your Makeup Expiration Dates Matter & Here's When To Throw Them Out

If you’re spring cleaning your closet, you might want to give some thought to your favourite makeup essentials that have been sitting on your vanity over the last few months (or years). Have they languished after being forgotten in your makeup drawers for much of 2024? How about your brushes and blenders? Were they neglected too? Left alone for too long, makeup and its tools could be causing you skin issues which is why you should taking a look at your makeup expiry date.

Dermatologist at Dermatology & Surgery Clinic Dr Uma Alagappan says unclean makeup can cause many skin problems. Comedones and inflammatory acne are most common, leading to breakouts, scarring and pigmentation. Another issue is irritant contact dermatitis, a skin reaction that occurs when a substance comes into contact with and damages the skin’s topmost protective layer. Some people can react to strong irritants after a single exposure, while others may develop symptoms after repeated exposure, causing aggravation.

Makeup is often the main cause. Many of us buy and use our liquid foundations, creams and powders till we scrape the bottom of the pan. While you can’t really sanitise every makeup product, you can check the general guidelines of product shelf life. Bobbie Ng, makeup artist at The Makeup Room, says: “Shelf life starts the day you open the product. Often, a symbol of how long you can use a product is indicated on it with a symbol of an opened jar and the relevant number of months it can last.”

Wondering when you should toss out your makeup and looking to explore more ways to extend its longevity? We've interviewed professional makeup artist Beno Lim for some useful tips that are sure to come in handy while you're decluttering your vanity. To find out more, continue to read on.

When to toss your makeup

When it comes to tossing out your makeup, you should always look out for telltale signs for when these products have reached their expiration dates or if they’ve been infected by bacteria — causing more harm than help to your complexion. Some of these straightforward signs include:

COLOUR:
Colour inconsistencies are a tell-tale sign. Bobbie says: “When a product loses its pigment, like when you dip a brush into a product and colour doesn’t get picked up, it’s a sign that the product has gone bad.”

SMELL:
Lipsticks, foundations and lip glosses are most prone to changes in smell. So once you detect a change, the product has also been compromised.

TEXTURE: 
When you use a product and realise that the texture has changed, like if pressed powders don’t seem as smooth or worse, liquid formulations have started to separate, discard them immediately.

Your makeup tools matter

The experts agree that cleaning your makeup tools (brushes, sponges, puffs and Q-tips) is important to stave off the germs.

Brushes – Bobbie says if you use makeup daily, washing your brushes every seven to 10 days is the gold standard. “Wash the brushes with shampoo and lay them flat on a towel to dry,” she adds. She recommends baby shampoo instead of “the super nourishing ones” that add nutrients to natural fibres, instead of stripping them clean.

Sponges/Blenders – Makeup artist Beno Lim prefers to use disposable ones. “This is safer and less likely to get contaminated after multiple uses.” Bobbie has another solution: Wash them after each use, then air dry completely.

Powder Puffs – Beno says: “For loose powder puff, you may wash it once or twice. After that, it’s best to replace with a new one. Pressed powder puffs don’t hold their shape after washing and can also harbour germs in a closed compact. Get a new one instead.”

Develop good makeup habits

While you can keep your products as clean as possible, there are also small bad habits that need to go. Dr Uma Alagappan advises keeping makeup out of the sun and bathroom: “Though it’s convenient, you should actually avoid keeping your makeup in the bathroom or next to the window. Humidity in bathrooms can promote bacterial growth, while direct sun exposure can affect the chemical composition in makeup and cause skin problems.”

Old habits like pumping the mascara brush into the tube also allow air and bacteria to get into the product. Beno warns: “When air is trapped inside the product, it shortens the lifespan of mascara.” Instead, swirl the brush around the tube before drawing it out, and wipe the bristles down with a clean tissue before putting it back in.

If all else fails, enlist the help of technology. Bobbie divulges her tip: Buy a UV sanitiser for home use. Turn it on to help sanitise your makeup, tools and brushes in between cleaning days.

The shelf life of your makeup products

FOUNDATION — Up to 2 years
Pump packaging for liquid foundation is the most hygienic as it will pump out just the quantity needed. You can also clean the nozzle with alcohol wipes.

CONCEALER — 6 months to 2 years
Liquid concealers generally last about 6 months to a year while cream formulations last about a year to 18 months. Concealers without applicators can usually last about two years, as it doesn’t directly touch your skin.

HIGHLIGHTER — 6 months to 2 years
Similar to concealers, highlighters can last about 6 months to 2 years.

POWDERS — Up to 2 years
Never use your fingers to apply any powder onto your face – instead, use a clean brush. For pressed powders, replace your powder puff regularly to reduce bacteria build-up.

EYELINER AND BROW PENCIL — Up to 1 year
Sharpen them often to keep infected tips away.

MASCARA — 3 to 6 months
As it is used so close to the eyes, replacing mascara regularly helps to prevent eye infections. Do not share mascara, ever. It can spread bacteria from person to person.

LIQUID EYE MAKEUP — 3 to 6 months
Do not use eyeliners and other liquid eye products beyond six months. They are used very close to the eyes, which can cause eye infections.

EYESHADOW — 1 to 3 years
Eyeshadow that has a water formula should only be kept for a year, especially since you’re using it around the eye area. However, for powder formulas, most eyeshadows can last from two to three years

FRAGRANCES — 3 to 5 years
Unlike most makeup products, fragrances can be stored for a longer period if kept properly. To determine if it’s time to discard your perfume, watch for changes in colour or smell. If the scent starts to change or the colour becomes different, it’s likely time to toss it.

This article was originally published on Her World.