It’s a 
new year – and it’s a good time to give your makeup collection and once over and purge the old, off, spoiled, or outdated makeup that might be lurking in your collection. January is the month that I really enjoy giving my makeup a good going through. I hadn’t bought anything new in over three years, so I KNOW I have a lot of products to purge from my collection. I pretty much need to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.
This is a good long afternoon project, and you should make a date with yourself and really plan on taking it from beginning to end. Pour out all of your products on a table and start with a big sort. The first sort is the easiest, simply use the chart on the right as reference so you know the best “use by” times. All beauty products will expire given time. The preservatives included in the product to prevent the growth of bacteria will break down over time. With beauty products, the clock starts ticking the moment you open the package and use the product for the first time.
In modern products there’s a little symbol on the packaging that looks like a little open jar with a time marked on it. This represents the Period After Opening or PAO. the M stands for Month, so you know how many months after the date of opening the product when the item will begin to spoil. It’s a hard truth, but all makeup does spoil. Pay attention to how old your makeup is, either by taking a dated photograph of when you bought it, making note in a makeup diary, or by labelling or marking the product.
Four top tips for makeup safety.
- Don’t over buy! There is nothing worse than throwing out a lot of product you didn’t use because you simply had too much to work through.
- Don’t be a hoarder. But it’s so PRETTY! I know, you love that seven year old powder, but is it still safe to use on your skin? The mission is to use your cosmetics safely to avoid breakouts and infection. Purge as you go so expired makeup doesn’t pile up.
- Don’t use spit. Resist the urge to lick your products. Your spit is teaming with bacteria. Enough said!
- Clean your brushes and wash your hands. Keep bacteria out of your products by keeping your brushes clean, decanting makeup to a tray, or using disposable makeup applicators like cotton buds.
Authorities don’t always agree on whats the best time to toss makeup, but here are some rough rules of thumb:
- Authorities don’t always agree on whats the best time to toss makeup, but here are some rough rules of thumb:Powder Products – 2 – 3 years
- Creamy Products – 1 – 2 years
- Liquid foundations – 6 mo – 1 year
- Doncealers – 1 – 2 years
- Lipstick and lip gloss – 2 years
- Pencil products – 2 years
- Liquid or gel eyeliner – 3 – 6 months
- Mascara – 3 – 6 months
- Nail polish – 1 – 2 years
- Sunscreen – 4 – 6 months
Wanna read more about use by dates? Check out these links:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/makeup/tips/a17714/expired-beauty-products/
http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skin-care-basics/_/When-to-Toss-Out-Beauty-Products
Good luck with your annual makeup purge.
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
January 25, 2016
ps – Special thanks to photographer Michael Baxter