Throw That Old Make Up Away!
Ever wake up with an irritation on the outer corner of your eye, or worse, with swelling of your entire eyelid? If you have been using the same mascara for longer than 3 months, it may be the culprit.
Make up is a reservoir for all types of bacteria, fungi and even viruses, plus it is hard to know how long it is safe to keep cosmetics around. Some products can be safely used for a year or longer but items with wands or brushes that are constantly dipped and stored into a tube are most at risk for contamination.
How long you can keep make up depends on the type, but throw away anything that smells or separates or if you develop an infection while using it. Cosmetics do have preservatives which help extend their life but remember natural products may need to be discarded sooner. It goes without saying, never share make up with someone else, especially eye make up.
Mark the date on all newly opened products to help remember when you started using them by keeping a sharpie pen handy in your cosmetics bag.
How long they last:
● Mascara: 3 months. Pumping the brush can push bacteria farther into the tube.
Eyeliner
● Liquid eye liner: 3-6 months
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add A New Comment3 Comments
I am guilty of keeping make up longer than I should. The good thing is that I hardly ever use anything other than a bit of eyeline (sometimes) and lip gloss. And those 2 never go bad because I actually use them.
I think a lot of women tend to forget when we bought this or could that be expired? It would be nice if manufacturer's had expiration dates on their items but sadly most make up goes bad after you've opened it and used it. This is a good article to keep handy for those wondering how long each item lasts for.
My husband had a bad stye 2 weeks ago-- I wonder if he has been using my old make-up...Hmm...
Just Kidding. :-)
sounds like it's time to keep a sharpie in the bathroom. Put your own date on it.
I am not a big make up user either. I do wear contact lenses though and anyone with lenses should be extra careful to get rid of old eye make up to avoid problems.