It’s time to purge your beauty cabinet! I love a good old clear-out because it’s so therapeutic. But in the frenzy of spring cleaning and summer fun, our beauty cabinets often get ignored. For me, it’s a combination of British practicality and sentimentalism. I love beauty products, and I always think I’m going to go back to a trusted favorite (even though I’ve fund a replacement I like more). And I’ve spent good money on these products (probably more than I should have) and I hate the feeling of throwing money down the drain – literally.
But the bottom line is this: Beauty products go bad. Just like with food, even the best products have an expiration date. And when beauty products go bad, it can get really gross. One word for you: Mascara. Next time you’re leaning into the mirror to give your lashes a good swoop, think about how long ago you purchased that tube, how many times you’ve taken the brush out and put it back it, and how close it is to your eyeball! Eye makeup is one of the most contaminated products in your makeup bag because it can carry potentially harmful levels of microorganisms (including staphylococcus corynebacterium and Moraxella, all common in bacterial skin infections). And for the record, a product doesn’t have to be old to be exposed to bacteria – Products that contain water as one of the first ingredients have the shortest shelf life after opening because water encourages the growth of bacteria and other microbes.
The problem is not all products come with a labeled expiration date. Let’s talk about how to spot a beauty product gone bad.
- If a product seems unusually runny, clumpy, or discolored, throw it away.
- If a product has separated, throw it away
- If a product has developed a strange odor, throw it away.
- If the packaging has expanded, warped, or has signs of deterioration, throw it away. This means that something has gone wrong inside of the packaging.
Let’s break it down even further. Here are my recommendations for when to toss your make up. Just remember, this are just guidelines, always use your best judgement, and err on the side of caution.
- Mascara (of all types): 4 – 6 months (Note: never add water to extend the life of mascara – that’s a bacteria disaster waiting to happen)
- Eyeliners (liquid, pencil, gel): 4 – 6 months
- Cream, Liquid or Stick Foundations or Concealers: 6 months to 1 year
- Powder-based products (including mineral makeup): 2-3 years
- Lipsticks, Lip Gloss, & Lip Pencils: 2-3 years
- Cleansers: 1 year
- Toners: 6 months to 1 year
- BHA or AHA Exfoliants: 1 year
- Facial or Body Moisturizers and Serums: 6 months to 1 year
- Lip Balms: 1 year
So, here’s what I recommend:
1. Put aside a good couple of hours this week. You need to do it all in one go.
2. Fire up you favorite playlist and unload your bathroom cabinet, shelves, vanity – anywhere where you keep skin care, beauty or personal care products.
3. Have a roll of recycled paper towels to hand and a sprayer bottle filled with hot vinegar (place 1 cup of vinegar in microwave for 1.5 minutes and fill sprayer). Also have a large trash bag at the ready.
4. If you don’t have perfect vision, stick on your readers or grab a magnifying glass.
5. Begin to inspect every single product, asking yourself:
a) Has it passed it’s expiry date?*
b) Have I used it within the last 30 days – if not, it should probably go.
c)Does it contain a class of preservatives called “Parabens” (if so, all is probably not well with the formulation), Fragrance/Parfum (an umbrella term that can hide over 150 chemicals), or Mineral Oil (not great for your skin). If you want a way more detailed list of ingredients to avoid, scroll down to the bottom of this post).
Once you have decided what you are going to keep, clean each bottle, jar or tube off by spraying a little hot vinegar on a paper towel and wiping. The vinegar will kill germs and degrease your product. If you hate the smell of vinegar, you can add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to the bottle.
Your products are as good as they are fresh. On many products, you will notice a “Period After Opening”, and number followed by the letter M, and an icon of an open jar. The number means the number of months that the product should stay fresh after you’ve opening it. I am vigilant and keep a marker in my bathroom so that I can write the date of opening on the bottom of the jar to avoid confusion.
All this week, I’m going to be talking about how to PURGE your beauty cabinet, and then restock it. If you have any questions, head to my Facebook page, or Tweet me – I’m here as a resource! And be sure to check back later this week for new product recommendations, tips and tricks for getting the funk out of your beauty cabinet!
Remember: These products go on your FACE – You want to protect it, even if it means throwing a few dollars away!
Want more information about when to toss your beauty products? Check out this blog on PaulasChoice.com.
