Clear the Clutter in the Makeup Cabinet!

Just like food in the refrigerator or pantry expires, so do makeup and beauty products. It can be hard to part with a favorite lipstick or eyeshadow, but over time these products can build up bacteria. It’s also easy to accumulate too many of some products. How many mascaras do you have? Doing a clean-out of the makeup drawer or medicine cabinet will not only be healthy, but also help keep your morning routine more organized and give you a more peaceful feeling as you start your day.

While it’s hard to throw things in the garbage that you spent money on and selected carefully, keep in mind the health reasons why replacing these products regularly is so important!

• Mascara. The expiration date on mascara is six months at most. If you pump your mascara to get more onto the brush, you are forcing more air into the tube, shortening its lifespan to three months because it may dry out or allow bacteria to grow.
• Eyeliner. Just like mascara, liquid liners are safe for up to six months. Pencils are good for up to 12 months because sharpening them helps to keep bacteria at bay.
• Powder-based products. These include eyeshadows and blushes. These will keep for up to two years.
• Foundation. Opt for a pump dispenser whenever possible; this has a life of up to two years.
• Lipsticks. Toss these after two years. However, there are signs that they need to be thrown out sooner, such as changes in consistency or smell. When in doubt, throw it out! Replace it with a new tube.
• Nail polish. Nail polish has a life of 1-2 years, depending on the brand. Again, keep an eye on the consistency. Polish that looks clumpy has likely expired.
• Perfumes. Perfumes are designed to last longer, and will still be good for 8-10 years. They fare best in cool, dry places.
• Lotions. Lotions are good for up to two years. After that, you will notice the scents change, which is a sign they’re past their prime.

Once you’ve cleaned out your inventory of makeup and lotion that no longer serves you, you’ll be able to tell which products you use regularly and which you don’t. If you’ve had the same blush or foundation for years, that’s an indication that you don’t use it a lot. Next time, replace it with a drug store brand. If you use your eye makeup every day, that means you can splurge on the quality brands more often because you know you get more use out of it!