When To Throw Away Your Makeup

It is rare but possible that using makeup after expiry can cause infection and allergies, and sometimes these untreated infections can lead to blindness.

How to know if the makeup has gone bad?
There is no expiry date written on cosmetics so it becomes difficult to judge whether a cosmetic can be used or not. Experts vary in their “keep it and toss it guide line” but they all agree on one thing and that is—Mascara. This lasts the shortest and gives problem the most. Mascara gets contaminated from the very first time you open the seal and use it. Sadly, you can’t do much to avoid that. Also, make sure you throw away your eyeliner, eye creams, face creams after six months. Liquid cosmetic should be tossed after one year while lipsticks and lip pencils can be used for two years. Dry cosmetic like eye shadow, blusher, face powder etc can be used for more than three years. Remember, If the product starts smelling or you see any change in color or consistency just throw them away.

Why does it go bad?
As soon as you open the product, bacteria which are in the air contaminate it, and then you add more by using it with unclean hands or brush. It won’t affect you much if you are a healthy person but if you are already suffering from some skin problem or you have some sort of infection then it is only going to get aggravated. Although, there are some preservatives in the product but they loose their effectiveness as the cosmetic gets old and are not able to fight bacteria no matter how careful you are while using it.

How can I protect my makeup?
Make sure, you never share your makeup with others. Don’t add anything extra in your makeup like water or cream (in liquid makeup) as it will change the consistency of the makeup and can also upset its chemical formula. Always clean your face and hands with soap before using the cosmetic. Keep your makeup applicators clean. Wash them with a mild shampoo twice a month. To prolong the life of your cosmetics avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures.