Whether it’s that mascara that makes you look like a Disney princess or that foundation that makes you glow like an angel, we all have trusty go-to cosmetic products that we absolutely love… Which is why it can be so hard to take an objective look at our makeup bags and see what really needs to go.
But what you might not realise is how much damage using old makeup can do to your skin and eyes. From blemish-causing bacteria trapped in that old concealer to eye infections from old mascara, keeping old makeup can have all sorts of nasty effects so take a look at this handy guide to see what you can keep and what you should chuck.
Powder makeup
Whether it’s a blusher, compact, concealer or highlighter, your powder product is the strong-man of the makeup world. Because it doesn’t contain oil, powder won’t break down and go bad as quickly as cream cosmetics so you can keep that gorgeous bronzer for up to two years. Bear in mind though, compacts and any other powder product you use with a sponge or brush can still carry bacteria so get rid if its colour or smell starts to change.
Eyeshadow
Although a powder, shadows are still used in an around your sensitive eyes so can leave them prone to infection if they become contaminated. Switch up eyeshadows every six months just to be safe.
Foundations and cream products
As we mentioned before, foundations and other creamy cosmetics tend to contain oil so will break down and go off quicker than other products. We also tend to use them with our fingers, leaving them more at risk of contamination. Luckily foundation’s expiry date is normally up to one year, by which time you’ve normally used it all up anyway.
Eyeliner and mascara
These are the ones that really hurt, especially if you can’t resist a designer mascara. But like it or not, any liquid product used on your eyes has to go after two months (or three at a push!). Mascara and liquid eyeliner bottles are notorious breeding grounds for bacteria, and can cause some pretty nasty eye infections if you’re not careful. We know it’s hard but if you’ve had that perfect mascara for longer than two months, it’s time to nab yourself a replacement.
