Ladies, welcome back to another Beauty Tip Tuesday! Today, we’re going to talk about something that many of us may not consider when it comes to our makeup and beauty products: expiration dates.
Long before cosmetology school, I always had a passion for makeup and skincare. I would give classmates “makeovers” in algebra, dye my friends hair in my bathroom (never use black box dye in a white bathroom – sorry mom).
Once I had my cosmetology license, I had the opportunity to do hair and makeup for big events like the American Idol Finale in 2010. I worked with top tier beauty companies like Mary Kay. And, I did hair and makeup for over 50 weddings (including my own)!
As women, we spend countless amounts of money on cosmetics to improve our appearance and boost our confidence.
However, it’s also important to ensure that the products we use are safe and not harmful to our skin.
So, let’s dive into the importance of makeup expiration education!
What are expiration dates in makeup?
Expiration dates are dates that manufacturers put on products to suggest how long they are safe and effective to use. These dates indicate how long a product can be used safely before it begins to break down, bacteria starts to grow, or loses its effectiveness.
Makeup products, such as mascara, eyeliners, and lipsticks, can often cause harm to our skin if not used correctly or when expired. It’s important to understand the different symbols and meanings behind expiration dates.
Some products may have a ‘best before’ date, while others may have a period-after-opening (PAO) symbol.
Just like its important to check labels in the grocery store, my hope is that this will help you become more habitual and intentional about checking expiration of your makeup.
Why is it important to heed expiration dates?
Using expired products can cause irritation, redness, rashes, clogged pores, and even infections.
Old products can also lose their effectiveness and not perform as they should. Expired makeup can foster the growth of bacteria and other harmful germs, which can cause eye infections or even serious health issues like staph infections.
Not to mention, using expired makeup products can also seriously harm your skin and eyes. Therefore, always pay attention to the expiration dates of beauty and makeup products.
If you wouldn’t put an expired meat or other food in your body, do not put expired makeup on your skin.
How to inspect makeup expiration dates
Now that you know how important it is to use makeup responsibly, let’s talk about how to inspect makeup expiration dates.
The first place to check is the packaging of the product. The packaging usually contains information on the expiry time period or even symbols which indicate when a product is best for use.
You can also look for any changes in the product’s makeup, such as the following;
- Changes in color, texture, or smell: If you notice that your makeup has changed in color or texture, or if it has a strange smell, it is likely that it has expired.
- Separation of liquids: In liquid products like foundation or mascara, if you see the product separating into different layers, it’s time to throw it away.
- Products drying out: Powders, eyeshadows, blush, and other dry makeup products tend to become harder or may crack when expired.
- Irritation when applied: If applying a product causes redness, irritation, or a rash that it didn’t before, it’s time to replace it.
If you still are not sure, you can also check out this neat and free tool to calculate the expiration of your makeup. Just click HERE!
When to replace expired makeup
It’s safe to say that regularly inspecting makeup expiration dates is a great way to ensure that our beauty arsenal stays safe to use.
But when is it the right time to replace your makeup?
There are a few general guidelines you can follow.
- Mascara typically lasts for about three months
- Eyeliners and lipsticks last for six to twelve months.
- Powders, including eye shadows, foundation, and blushes, usually last around a year and a half
Additionally, if you’ve had an infection or been sick, it’s best to toss everything and start fresh. Remember, it’s much better to be safe than sorry when it comes to expired makeup.
Final thoughts on makeup expiration
In conclusion, taking care of our skin and using makeup responsibly is essential. Learning about makeup expiration dates can save you from experiencing harmful side effects on your skin or expending more money when the products go bad.
Regularly check your beauty and makeup products for expiry dates, change in texture, or color signs and follow the recommendations related to replacing products when necessary.
By doing so, we can keep our skin looking flawless and healthy, and keep ourselves looking beautiful and radiant all year round.
Keep your makeup fresh and healthy, so you can always look and feel your best!
If you love our beauty tips and want to stay up to date and learn more, or if there is something specific you would love to learn about, feel free to CONTACT me!
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