According to the FDA, cosmetics aren’t required by law to have expiration dates, so you can’t just look at the label to know when a product has retired. However, some companies are labeling dates on their products for us consumers who would rather not have more bacteria on our skin than necessary.
Be aware that expiration dates are simply a guide to go by and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. For instance, cosmetics exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to purchase may substantially deteriorate before the expiration date.
Makeup preservatives should kill common bacteria (personally, I stay away from preservatives unless they are plant based), but as studies show, a little bacteria is in makeup before we buy it. Once you open your new product, airborne bacteria swarms in. You add to the bacteria by touching the product with unclean hands. Then, to top it off, you use an unclean applicator. Know that aging cosmetics lose their power to fight the bacteria no matter how gentle and clean you are when using it.
So the question is how long can we keep our little hopes in the bottle, and can we extend the shelf life of them to protect ourselves from infections, like pink eye and skin breakouts?
The answer is in this guideline. Let me help you clean out your makeup bag and medicine cabinet.
Color Makeup
Liquid foundation lasts three to six months. Cream foundation can last four to six months. Foundation in a pump dispenser will last a little longer, because it is less exposed to air than jar foundation. If it has a higher percentage of pigment, such as mineral makeup, then you have about a year. Here’s a tip: Use a disposable applicator and use the front of your hand as a palette.
Concealer has a shelf life of six to eight months.
Powders, including eye shadows and blush, last a year.
Mascara lasts for three months. Hint: Never pump your mascara; air just pushes back into the tube. Clean your wand with tissue every couple of days. It helps prevent clumping.
Lip gloss and lipstick have a shelf life of one year.
Eye and lip pencils will stay fresh over a year with continued use of sharpening; you’ll know when it has gone bad if it crumbles.
