Now that spring has officially sprung, it’s not only a great time to change your wardrobe, but to also change your beauty products. Before you run off to the makeup counter to purchase some of the season’s ‘must have’ cosmetics, you will want to look through your products and selectively edit. I can completely appreciate that many of us have at least a little (if not a lot) of trouble letting go of things, even makeup. However painful it may seem, you will want to edit your stash at least twice a year because cosmetics do expire. The not-so glam truth is that once you open a product and start to use it, it becomes exposed to the air and elements, not to mention bacteria, which can prove problematic for your skin.
My belief about makeup is as follows: If you haven’t used a product in a year, you probably never will. There are some sure signs that a cosmetic has lived past its prime: if it has an unusual odor, has changed consistency or changed color. With that in mind, remember that everything has an expiration date! Follow these guidelines to keep your makeup always looking fresh:
- Foundation/ concealer: 9 months
- Loose Powder: up to 2 years
- Powder Eye Shadow or Blush: up to 2 years
- Cream Eye Shadow or Blush: 12 to 18 months
- Mascara: 3 months
- Lipstick: up to 1 1/2 years
- Lipgloss: 1 year
The good news is that once you rid your bag of tricks of the items that have outlived their usefulness, you will enjoy your trip to the makeup counter all the more! This season dare to try something different. Maybe intensify your color palette or add a bit of sparkle and shine? Whatever you do, experiment, have fun; and put your best face forward!
