How to Spring Clean Your Beauty Products
In regards to your true self, age doesn’t matter. You are who you are, your spirit is ageless, you can have lifelong health and make the most of what you have. You just have to use it or you lose it!
But in regards to makeup, it just isn’t made to last. Red lipstick gets rusty-looking, mascara gets gloppy and dried out, moisturizer turns moldy and smelly. If you don’t use it, just lose it!
So how are we to know when products are too old and maybe unhealthy to keep using? I have collected the lists and guides in this post that you need in order to clean out and clean up your makeup stash. All the info is here at your fingertips!
Most cosmetics are formulated with preservatives. (Horrors! I hope mine don’t because I choose hypoallergenic and natural products.) But nevertheless, most cosmetics only last up to three years. And who knows? A product can sit on a store shelf for a year or two before it even gets to your shelf.
If you jot down the date you bought a product, at least you’ll know how long you’ve had it. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a system for writing down when I buy every product in my house. I just judge whether it’s gone bad by looking at it and smelling it because they usually don’t have an expiration date on them. (There’s an idea: the cosmetics companies should be required to put expiration dates on their products like foods and medicines have.) Anything that looks or smells even slightly off should be tossed right away. But there are three to keep a close eye on: mascara, eye cream and sunscreen.
The drier the product is, the longer it lasts, because microorganisms need water to grow. So moisture-rich creams and lotions are at higher risk than powders or pencils. But there are exceptions to the rule. See the wet and dry cosmetics chart below to preserve and protect your beauty products.
But first, here’s a GUIDE TO SPRING BEAUTY CLEANING by New York City makeup artist Laura Geller that I saved from an old magazine:
- Search: Gather up every single beauty product you have on hand.
- Organize: Group cosmetics by category: all lipsticks together, all shadows, blushes and so on.
- Sniff: Smell everything. If it’s rank or off in any way, get rid of it. Then inspect textures; anything in an altered state — cracked, crumbly, moldy — should be tossed.
- Edit: If you have to convince yourself that you love it, toss it. Likewise for stuff that doesn’t look good on you. Once you eliminate the mistakes in your medicine cabinet, you’re more likely to use the good stuff in a timely fashion.
- Buy: Pick up lots of tiny plastic bottles. Next time you travel, fill these and leave the big sizes at home — safe from potentially damaging temperature and altitude changes. When you get back, ditch all the leftovers.
- Bottom line: If you haven’t used it in the last six months, you’re probably never going to. Heave-ho.
Is It Safe For Your Face?
The Wet Stuff — Water is usually a pond for microbes, alcohol is a microbe fighter — But it can “turn” on you
- FRAGRANCE: Lasts three years or longer. Toss it if the color turns darker (think of rich caramel), or the scent turns pungent and vinegary. High alcohol content keeps most fragrances “clean.” Prolong life by storing in a cool, dark place like the refrigerator; keeping it away from bright, warm places like the bathroom, and/or keeping it in its box between uses.
- SINGLE-DOSE CAPSULES (BREAK-OPEN AMPULES FOR MOISTURIZERS: Lasts about three years because the capsules are enclosed, airtight, and are meant to be used up each time. Toss it if you find a half-used capsule or if the packaging looks tampered with in any way (check before you use). Prolong life by stashing in a cool, dry place and hanging on to the anti-humidity packet in the container.
- NAIL POLISH: Lasts two years, give or take. Toss it if polish is thick, dried out, separated, or impossible to apply smoothly. It isn’t really spoiled, but you won’t like it. Prolong life by shaking it up. Over time, the pigments separate — if the color doesn’t coalesce after a shake, give up.
- CREAMY MASKS: Lasts six months to a year (masks in powder form — you mix them with water — can stick around forever). Toss it if there are changes in consistency — a mask may become thick, hard to spread, or may develop a clay-like smell. Prolong life by storing in the fridge — the cold is a great germ inhibitor. Bonus: a cool mask feels extra soothing on skin.
- MOISTURIZERS AND FOUNDATIONS: Lasts a year or less. Water-containing products are easily corrupted — and those used daily have daily exposure to contamination. Toss it if the product separates or goes black, gray or green (signs of — ugh — mold). Prolong life by applying with a makeup sponge or cotton swab — fingers can carry germs. Also, keep tightly closed, and no sharing.
The Dry Stuff — Generally dry means l-o-n-g life. A product is likely to look bad before it actually goes bad.
- LIP AND EYE PENCILS: Lasts three years or more. The waxy consistency is an effective germ barrier. And when you sharpen, you expose a fresh point. Toss it if the pencil cracks lengthwise (in which case, it may not be contaminated, but it becomes too dry for successful application). Otherwise, any contamination is only on the surface. Prolong life by cutting the tip with a sterile razor and sharpening before each use. Never, ever share. And keep the cap on tight.
- LOOSE POWDER: Lasts for years. Some experts even use the word forever. But over time, constant exposure to light and heat can change the color. Toss it if it looks lumpy — a sign powder had met its enemy: moisture. Or it looks like someone else’s — too much light has changed the shade. Prolong life by closing tightly so humidity can’t sneak in and muck things up. Keep it at home and travel with an easy-to-pack pressed version.
- LIPSTICK: Lasts two or three years — lipsticks are oil-based and aren’t prone to contamination. Toss it if it smells rancid, looks cakey, or the color has changed. You should definitely pitch it if you feel a slight burning sensation when you apply. Prolong life by storing them in the fridge, and buying little “paint boxes” to fill with color leftovers.
- POWDER COMPACTS (FACE, CHEEK, EYE COLORS): Lasts three years, or until the compact cracks up (minimize that possibility by keeping in a little pouch). Toss it if color has gone ghostly — from too much light exposure; or texture becomes chalky — the result of dampness. Prolong life by keeping powders in a cool, dry place. Resist the temptation to store in the bathroom — it’s the worst possible spot (too hot and steamy).
- MASCARA: Lasts three to six months. Better safe than sorry when it comes to risking contamination near the eye. Toss it if it smells funny or is difficult to apply (too dry or clumpy) or if you can’t remember when you bought it. Prolong life by following three rules: never share, never touch anything but lashes with the brush, and never use saliva to thin out mascara.
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