Like food and medications, your cosmetics have a shelf life. Once they expire, some of their ingredients can separate or deteriorate, leaving you with products that don't go on like they should or that are a little off-color.
Makeup also collects bacteria from your eyes, lips and that finger you dab into pots and tubes, and those bacteria multiply. Go through your makeup collection every four months and throw out the ones that have expired.
How long can you expect cosmetics to stay fresh and usable? In general, the moister it is, the shorter its life. Check out these guidelines, but use a dose of common sense too — if it smells bad or is the wrong consistency, discard it. Keep in mind that if you use your finger to apply makeup instead of applicators, bacterial growth can shorten the life of your cosmetics.
Mascara. 4 months, because bacteria from your eyelashes thrive in the moist, dark environment inside the tube
Eye liner. 6 months
Eye and face creams. 6 months
Nail polish. 12 months
Foundation. 12 months for water based, 18 months for oil based
Lipstick. 2 years
Lip liner. 3 years
Eye shadow. 3 years
Face powder. 3 years
