GENERAL FAQ: Shelf-life of cosmetics

[xcoco]

Hmm I have alot of makeup that I almost never used.
For eyeshadows, I use it 2-3 times to see what it looks like and if I don't like it, I just put it somewhere and never use it again. I wanted to know, can you keep the eye shadows for longer than 2 years (maybe 4 years?) if you almost never use it? =/ Cause I just realised that I spent alot of money on makeup that I almost never use and im scared they will expire...

[Nails]

Well the whole change in texture thing explains what happened to my chapstick many years ago. Suddenly it stopped hydrating and left a gross chalky layer on my lips!

I think as long as you pay attention to general hygiene - clean brushes/buds, no fingers, select pump bottles over jars and store everything properly, you should be okay.

Once an eyeshadow stops delivering as much pigment, it's usually time to go. Another thing to think about is; you either use an eyeshadow a lot, often or only sometimes. After two years, it's either gone, halfway there or barely touched. Halfway there is when you should be watching it. If you use it a lot, you probably need to replace it anyway. Barely touched - give it more stage time or rethink why you got it.

[nico]

there's no way I can finish my eyeshadows in one or two years.I wonder what people have been doing with huge collections.what really happens when somebody uses expired make-up products anyway? it's not like it will kill me

[lnllms]

do you guys throw away 'old' makeup according to the gudelines?

[MACATTAK]

With the exception of mascara..no. I go by smell, texture, and color. If any of those things change, I toss the product.

[iluffyew769769]

Not usually

[lnllms]

cool! I'm not the only one

[Dani]

This should probably go in Product Safety...but no I use my makeup till it's gone. Bad me =P

[Twinkle_Twinkle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnllms

do you guys throw away 'old' makeup according to the gudelines?

Heck no.

[krt]

I had a friend in high school (around 02', 03')that used mascara that was her mom's in like...at least the late 80s (you could tell by the old cover girl packaging) or really early 90s and it was so dried out and smelled so gross....I mean, I could literally smell her mascara when she'd talk to me...but whatever she could manage to get on her lashes she felt made them look fuller... and somehow there was still this dry, gooey mess in that atleast 10 year old bottle, that she'd force out and onto her poor lashes. I tried to explain all this numerous times to her but "new mascara didnt give the same effect" to her, to me they just looked really flaky and gross but she liked it that way. Surprisingly I dont recall any obvious infections though

I wonder if she still has her sight?

[foxxylatina07]

I have a couple of fluidlines unused that I just bought and received through swaps and I also have some blush powders there that are new, which I bought recently it hasn't even been six months yet. I have them stored in a huge makeup bag closed up that way I keep humidity out. However, I also make sure that their still in their original condition by checking once in a while. I also have some l/s too and I always check them to see if they're melting or something. Ok that's my two cents. LOL

[pretebrowneyes]

ok, i have a question....i have some mufe face/body l/f that I got 6 mths ago. I just started using it daily...I would use for a couple of weeks then leave it alone....now that I reach for it more often I notice that it has a settled jelly-like consistency until I shake it up. The smell is still the same and I honestly can't remember what it the consistency was like before now (just started really paying attention to my makeup). Does this mean I need to throw it out? The bottle is barely at the halfway mark....thx

[Repunzel]

ok i don't know if this is the right thread for this but i would appreciate if some1 could help me.my mineralize skinfinish natural has gone rock hard.u can't even swatch it nothing comes off.it happened a month into use.i can put my nail into it and its solid.(i have long acrylics)my daisy chain e/s it also getting a shell on 1 corner.ideas?
can i fix it?return it?.why did it happen?.
any help would be great thx.

[LeMacDiva]

If it looks like it's going bad, smells different changes color etc... I toss it. Not worth putting on your skin at that point. I'm a germ/clean freak!

[MsChrys79]

I removed my Urban Decay Primer Potion from the jar and put it in another jar, it was unused and I use a new q-tip each time I use it how long should it last??

[Prinsesa]

I just got an eyeshadow - Black Tied that had the code:

A94 -_-
So its the first batch, September 2004. So uh..I tried it and there's really no difference -_- Do I toss it or what?

[Heiaken]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prinsesa

I just got an eyeshadow - Black Tied that had the code:

A94 -_-
So its the first batch, September 2004. So uh..I tried it and there's really no difference -_- Do I toss it or what?

I'd say that if it feels and smells the same as new e/s them it's safe to use it

[justtobenaked]

great to know

[Casadalinnis]

People throughout this thread asked about fluidlines. You'll be able to tell when they're going downhill because they start getting dried out and seperate from the sides of the jar. Instead of trying to save it, I just replace it then. That stuff is hell to battle once it starts drying out....clumps on your brush and goes on atrociously. I swear I clamp my paint pots and fluidlines to the point my fiance has to open them for me sometimes.

The person that mentioned being a collector, I feel you 100% because I end up buying long enough to forget what I own and have eyeshadows I've never even used. I'm now trying to limit what I buy so I actually use what I own before everything starts to expire.....I allow myself only $150 a week for cosmetics so I can actually start to USE it all then have it sit looking pretty.
I fell off this week but only because I was buying for friends and family too.

[mern]

150 A WEEK.. wow... ahha I do about 300 a month and I thought that I was a crazy lady!

Id LOVE to see your collection!

[goddessella]

and here i was thinking i was the only freak who hates tossing very slightly used but really old makeup..

i tossed several baskets of make up 2 years ago.. but mind you these are verrrryyyy old and non mac.. i just recently discovered mac (like last january..) i know.. been living under the mythical rock, so to speak..

now im going go the smells the same, looks the same, feels the same route as everyone else..

[sunshine16]

Only thing i have to add is please ladies, don't keep your makeup in your bathroom! It's the worst room in the whole house to keep it, it would be better in your kitchen or anywhere for that matter.
The steam and heat in your bathroom is going to break down your products so much quicker.

[sleep2dream]

Hi !
I'm new here, I've spent many hours reading this awesome forum and here's my first post (I'm French, so I'm sorry for the mistakes).

I wanted to know if for lipsticks, there is a huge difference between unopened and unused ; if a lipstick was opened just in order to check if everything was ok (something bought on eBay for instance), does it mean that I still have to use it up very quickly or it will smell rancid ?

Thanks in advance, I haven't found any answer for this question...

[xx_princess_xx]

thanks for this thread, but considering how expensive MAC cosmetics are i dont think i would throw out my products every 6 months, i mean i don't know anyone who can finish MAC pigments that quick or even ever, i think iv had some of my pigments for over 5 years.

[franken_stein]

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. I am really wanting to get Sephora's Lash Stash. But I feel like even if you're not super-careful about throwing old makeup away, mascara is definitely one thing you SHOULD be careful about. It's just really easy for bacteria to grow on those wands and inside the bottle.

But there's just noooo way I'm using up all of those mascaras plus the ones I already have in three months. I wonder if the chances of infection or whatnot would be lessened by the fact that I'd be using those mascaras less often because of having so many. Anybody have any tips or thoughts?