As much as I would love, I don’t get to do my makeup every day like I used to. The reason is that I mostly work from home and as some of you might know I also am no longer working as a makeup artist. That means my makeup is not getting nearly as much use as it used to.
The other day while cleaning out my makeup vanity I felt so frustrated with how much makeup I had to throw away that I wish instead I had that money back in my bank account.
I had never seen it this way before, but when you consider that makeup has an expiration date, it’s very silly of us to buy so much of it.
Like groceries at the supermarket, we would never buy five gallons of milk that we know will go bad before we finish the first gallon and if you haven’t hit pan on that eyeshadow palette why must you buy another one just like it? These were all questions I, very frustrated with myself kept asking.
At one point I remember becoming so obsessed with collecting makeup, I would buy anything and everything in the market to have it sit in my Ikea Alex drawers and expire.
Thank god I matured and outgrew this stage of my life, now I find a product I love that works for me, and use it until I hit pan before buying another one in the same category.
Most brands put the image below with the number of months the product is safe for use and below is a general guideline of how long a makeup product last before it needs to be thrown out. Powders are the only category I am more flexible with since they don’t become contaminated as liquids can.
How Long Is Makeup Good For?
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SIX MONTHS: Mascara and liquid eyeliner.
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ONE YEAR: Liquid and cream products, including cream foundation, rouge, bronzer, eyeshadow, contour, and highlighter.
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TWO YEAR: All powder products, including loose powder, pressed powder, blush, and eyeshadow.
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TWO YEARS Lipstick, lip color pots, lip gloss.
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THREE YEARS: Eye pencils, brow pencils, and lip pencils.
I try to stay away from buying too many mascaras or liquid eyeliners due to their lifespan.
A tip to help prolong your makeup is to keep items stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
I hope this knowledge will help you have more control and consider how much you money spend on makeup.
It is very tempting to buy every single new makeup collection that comes out, but if it’s not getting used and just sitting in a cabinet, it becomes a waste of money. What’s worse than wasting money?
There are definitely exceptions where I will keep makeup longer than the advised time, mainly when it is a limited edition collection or too pricey to dump.
Whats the longest you have kept a makeup item for and what was it?
