All your plans to go out have been at a halt since March 2020 and the makeup that you thought you’d be using have either expired or nearing the expiration date. No matter whichever brand you are using, make-up products come with a shelf life and can invite several skin infections if used after the expiry date. But that does not mean you have to toss these expensive beauties into the dustbin, or out of your make-up kit.
If you are unsure whether your makeup products have expired or not, here is your guide by a makeup expert that will help you determine. When it comes to makeup, shelf-life is different for different products and can also depend on usage and storage. Generally, opened liquids and creams expire faster since they facilitate bacteria growth. As a rule the more ‘wet’ a product, the more prone it is to bacteria growth and should be tossed out as it hits its expiry. Powders like blush or eyeshadow last longer if they are stored and used properly.
Most commercially available products do and should have a number and a jar symbol on the packaging. It is usually printed on the bottom of the bottle or on the back of the label depending on different brands. Even the DTC or ‘home-grown’ brands that sell directly to the end consumer need to have this symbol. The number may read 6,12, 24 or 36, and this is the number of months your product is meant to last after it’s opened.
General signs your products have gone bad are: – The product smells funny – The product doesn’t feel like it did when you first started using it – The product starts changing colour. This is true for products like SPFs, lipsticks, cream blushes
Your favourite lipstick can turn into a cool tinted lip balm. Start with heating your expired lipstick so that you can kill all the bacteria. Mix it with Vaseline or any petroleum jelly, and voila! Your make-up kit is all set to welcome a new member! Another great use for expired lipsticks is as markers on calendars and fabric. They’re especially useful in marking stitching projects.
It’s wise to replace your eye shadow with new ones after a year. Wondering what to do with the old one? Come up with unique nail polish colours using expired eyeshadow. Loose eyeshadow is best for this, but if you’re using solid eyeshadow, scrape it out of the container and smash it until it turns powdery. Add clear nail polish and mix well to have a smooth consistency. If the polish is too thick, add more clear polish; if it’s too thin, add more eyeshadow. You can use more than one colour to come up with a colour that’s all your own, and you can mix and match different colours to create exciting nail art designs.
Mascara generally expires in three to six months but you can reuse the spoolie for various purposes. Clean it first, preferably with dishwashing detergent and hot water and then you can use its spoolie to tame your unruly brows or fuzzy flyaways. And in case you notice grey hair popping out, your expired mascara is there for your rescue. In fact, you can make your own DIY lip scrub using it. Just put some drops of natural oil on your mascara wand and gently scrub your lips with it. The result? Get ready to say hello to smooth, supple lips!