How quickly do you replace your mascara? Some say it must be done every six months. Hollywood makeup artist, Rachel Goodwin tosses it after just 6 weeks! “That’s one reason to buy inexpensive mascara,” says the makeup artist to actresses such as Penelope Cruz and January Jones. “Otherwise it can gather bacteria.” But these expiration dates apply to other makeup as well.
The Daily Mail recently did a story about how long you should keep everything from eye shadow to blush. Over time bacteria can get on the face and cause irritation or infection. But according to research many women carry makeup (that in some cases) is 15 years out of date. Below is a list of how long you should keep the following makeup around.
Lipstick – Up to two years tops!
Mascara - 4 to 6 months
Eyeliner – 18 months
Blush – 18-24 months
Perfume – 36 months
Brushes also need to be washed regularly. For more on this story click on this link.
Brushes do need to be cleaned, but if you have forgotten and really, really need to use that brush…grab some hand sanitizer and run it through the brush. Dries instantly and at least you can use the brush safely!
I don’t get too concerned about how long I keep any beauty item, except mascara. Everything else I keep until it starts looking or smelling bad. Since I don’t share my makeup EVER, I don’t feel I have too much to worry about.
i toss mascara after about 3months, everything else i use til i run out or it goes bad (obviously). so i feel that’s a fair compromise. i’ve never had any skin or eye irritationor bacterial (acne) issues and if i’m the only one using the brushes and make up, applying it to a clean face, i feel justified in my actions.
I clean my brushes regularly because I feel that if I don’t, germs will get on it and into my products. I also keep everything until it starts to go bad. Perfume actually goes bad!! I have this perfume called Diesel Green and it started to smell like alcohol. Yuck. As for mascaras, I try to throw them out every 6 months. Sometimes it sucks to just want to try a new mascara but then have to keep on using because it needs to be replaced after 6 months.
The one I really don’t agree with is blush, powder products can be kept safely pretty much indefinitely as they don’t harbor bacteria. Also, eyeliner can always be sharpened to sanitize (pencil of course).
lol i think i have quite a bit of outdated make up.. i need to use them quickly now! maybe layer up the mascara and pile up the powder lol!
I can’t believe it. I had been just telling my buddy about this. I’ll need to share this to him.