Quick Guide: When to Keep or Toss Beauty Stuff
As much as I like makeup and enjoy trying new products, there is a reason I have to hold back. If you look at the picture below (random pic off internet) there is a lot of makeup on the floor. The person whose site I copied this pic from is about to sort through all of this to figure out what she should keep and what she should throw out.
Now, if this was all to go to the trash, that is a lot of money wasted! Please do not get caught up in the hype of buying just because someone else says it’s a great product. But if buying products and testing them out is your thing, then by all mean make it do what it do! We can’t deny the fact that we sometimes keep Make-Up even if they're past their expiry dates, but it’s a must that every make-up collector should know when to keep and when to toss Make-Up and other Beauty Products to avoid unwanted hypersensitivity reactions from expired stuff.
However, there are also brands do not follow the list posted above, like for example NARS blushes, their crème/powder blushes' lifespan is 24months. With these deviations, there are other signs to watch out for, for us to decide whether to Keep or Toss our precious babies.
When to discard your makeup
1. Liquid Foundation 6 – 8 Months
2. Crème Base anything 1 year
3. Powder Products 2-3 years
4. Liquid Eye Liner 2-3 Months
5. Mascara 2-3 Months
6. Lip Stick/Palette 1 Year
1. As a general rule, if a product doesn’t cause hypersensitivity reactions or allergic reactions to the person using it, it would mean the product is still safe for use and it is still safe to keep.
2. Almost every beauty product in the market indicates that the product would be best used within 12 months after you open the package
3. If there is visible separation in the components of a liquid product, Toss.
4. If there are changes in the scent/odor of a product, Toss.
5. If there are visible changes in the color of a product, Toss.
6. If you think you’ve been keeping the product for God-knows-how-long and is doubtful if it’s still safe for testing, Throw it out.
Observing proper hygiene in using your beauty products doesn’t only decrease the chance of you getting allergic reactions from the product, it also extends the lifespan of these products as well, which is imperative for those who love purchasing expensive beauty products.
Here are a few tips to prolong the lifespan of your favorite beauty products.
For your pressed powder products, get a product called “Beauty So Clean” or put some 90% alcohol in a mist bottle. Wipe off the top layer of your dry, powder product with a clean tissue; spray lightly with the alcohol; allow to dry then put away.
1. Avoid double-dipping!
2. Use clean/sanitized spatulas, wands, sponges. These items decrease the chance of us, introducing microorganisms to the product.
3. Do not share makeup with anyone else.
4. Clean your make-up tools regularly, this includes brushes, sponges and whatever you use to apply the products with as these cosmetic tools can serve as the best breeding ground for germs.
5. Keep the product's lid tight all the time, to avoid the products from drying out fast.
6. Keep the products off moist, warm areas. Liquid items separate faster when exposed continuously to high temperatures. Keep your cosmetic storage away from windows or from direct sunlight. Moisture can also serve as a good breeding ground for microorganisms.
7. On eyeliner pencils, sharpen before usage, even just 1 twist will get rid of microorganisms that thrive in the tip of the pencil, remember that the eyes are the most sensitive part of our face, make sure your eye products are always clean.
8. On lipsticks, swipe the tip to a piece of tissue paper before swiping on your lips, when using a lip brush, clean the lip brush first before usage.
9. On compacts, to prolong the lifespan of these products, make sure to keep your sponge in a separate container or keep the thin acetate film that separates the sponge from the surface of the compact. Facial oil that the sponge collected during touch ups can harden the surface of the compact.
