Cosmetics and knowing when to bin it

We love our cosmetics, don’t we?

A touch of powder, a dab of gloss, and don’t forget the nightly skin care rituals that most women practice. Cosmetics play a significant part in our lives. We’re seeing a relatively larger amount of our shopping budget go into procuring these things and, boy, they do get a tad bit expensive, don’t they? Just thinking about just how much I spend on cosmetics, I had wondered if I’m getting the most out of what I’m paying for since some of the stuff get thrown out anyway.

There are moments we succumb to promotional tactics that would cause us to buy more than we ought. It’s high time that we become more attentive to what we’re spending our money on and how we make the most out of what we buy.

Photo from here

Skin care and makeup products aren’t meant to grow old with you. These are made to last a year or two, depending on the product and its use. Seeing that some are prone to be exposed to bacteria (makeup in particular), would you really risk it? Unlike food, cosmetics aren’t required to have an expiration date on their packaging. One’s left to keep track of when the product was opened.

But here’s a quick rundown of the approximate shelf life of cosmetics (after years of research and experience) and a few simple tips, which can serve as a guideline for you to maximize each product. If you know how to take care of the cosmetics you own and use, they should serve you well on to the very last penny you spent.

• Most powders, concealers and lip balms don’t contain water, so they can last for a couple of years.
• Lip liner can last up to three years. Suggestion: Forget the push-up lip liners. Not only are they expensive, but they also break easily. Plus you never really know how much you have left until you run out, which is inconvenient, don’t you agree?
• Some lipsticks last one to two years. Others, up to four years. But most will agree with the fact that if the lippie smells rancid, it’s time to throw it out. Suggestion: Storing lipsticks in the refrigerator will help make it last longer. And as for wear, you can make your lipstick stay on longer during the day if you shade in lips with a lip liner before applying lipstick. Dabbing a small amount of concealer around the edges will help as well.
• Concealer can last up to 12 months or a year.
• Pencils can last several years (up to three, based on experience) unless you wet the tip with water and such. To be safe, sharpen before each use.
• Eyeshadow will last up to three years.
• Mascara should be tossed after three months without fail. Note that the tube is a breeding ground for bacteria so please be wary about these things. Extra tip: If you don’t want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don’t pump the wand in and out — you’re only exposing the product to drying air.
• Foundations can last up to a year if used with a sponge for application and if you keep your fingers away from the bottle. Best to check the ingredients. A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, while oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find the need for two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you’re lighter. Suggestion: If your water-based foundation dries out before its expiration date, simply add a few drops of alcohol-free toner and shake to mix it in. No need to do this to oil-based foundations. Since they contain oil, they tend to separate. You have to shake anyway.
• Nail polish can last up to 12 months.
• Cleansers and moisturizers often contain fatty acids, which can turn rancid quickly. It’s advisable to toss it after six months.
• Cream and gel cleansers usually last a year.
• Multi-use products such as 3-in-1 sticks and creams can spread germs from the lips to the eyes and cheeks. Wipe the surface before switching areas, and discard or replace after six months.

Other tips you might find useful:

• Store cosmetics in a cool, dry place outside the bathroom to extend their shelf life.
• Wash your makeup brushes every two to three months with mild detergent or any hair shampoo (you can even get brush cleanser if you can spare the cost).
• Wash sponges weekly and discard monthly.

Generally, always toss anything that has changed color or consistency or has had a bad odor. Otherwise, use these guidelines to assess the shelf life of common beauty products. If you have a hard time keeping track of when you’ve bought things, just write down the purchase date. But it’s always a fantastic idea to use common sense: If your gloss’ consistency looks a bit unusual, your nail polish is separating, or your lipstick has a strange smell, it’s time to bin it. Full stop.