When Does Makeup Expire? A Quick Guide to Expiration Dates & How To Tell If Your Makeup Has Already Gone Bad

Over the weekend, I went through my entire makeup collection and had a proper Spring Clean where I ended up throwing away a lot of makeup that had gone off. It was terribly sad looking at bags of products that I'd neglected or just hadn't gotten around to using before they'd expired, and I couldn't help thinking about how much money I'd wasted!

I'm guessing this happens to many beauty bloggers and makeup fans alike; we often buy far more than we could ever use, and inevitably situations like this will happen when you finally take the plunge and do a big old clearout.

But how do you know when your makeup expires or goes off if there's no 'best before' date on it? There are two main ways; the common 'period after opening' symbol below, and the easy look/smell/performance test, and you use both of these methods to determine whether your makeup has already gone off or can be used a little longer.

Look For The 'Period After Opening' Symbol 

This PAO symbol is one that features on pretty much all beauty and toiletries products that have been manufactured in a factory. Whether it's makeup, haircare, skincare or bath and body stuff, it will most likely have this symbol on the container somewhere (usually on the back). The symbol applies to the amount of time that you have to use that product after it has been opened. 

Once a product is opened, it's immediately exposed to the air which is when bacteria can start to get inside it - this is why many products have those foil 'safety seals' to keep them airtight until they're opened. Most mainstream brands will use preservatives in their formulas which keep the product going for a standard 12 months (12M) and some can be even longer (such as 24M and 36M) before it starts to go off, or the ingredients inside become less effective. 

If you're a green beauty fan and buy a lot of natural and organic-based products, you may have spotted lots of PAO symbols that feature 3M or 6M, as many natural products generally don't use preservatives or use a lot less of them, so they naturally have a much shorter shelf life.

So that's easy yeah? Well, it is if you can remember when you actually opened something. If not, you can enlist the help of the look/smell/performance test.

The Look/Smell/Performance Test

This three question test is super easy. Grab a product and ask yourself:-

1. Does it look OK? A liquid foundation that has expired may have separated (be more watery at the top for example), a lipstick might look mouldy and discoloured, or a powder compact may have developed a hard coating. If it doesn't look like something that you'd buy from a shop, it's probably gone off.

2. Does it smell OK? Makeup that has gone off may develop a really nasty/pungent smell (often the case with mascaras), others will have a more subtle mouldy or damp scent to them. If it didn't smell like that when you bought it, it's time to bin it!

3. Does it still perform as it should? Expired products generally won't work as well as they used to, which is an indicator that it's been exposed to the air for too long or that the ingredients have gone bad. If a product no longer blends as well, has gone gloopy/sticky, dried out or changed texture, or you don't get the colour payoff that you used to with it, it's time to say goodbye.

A General Guide to Common Expiration Dates for Makeup

Natural & Organic Makeup (3-6 Months) - As I mentioned earlier, most natural and organic based makeup don't use preservatives or use a lot less of them in their formulas, so keep an eye on your green beauty buys. Mineral foundations and mineral based powder products seem to be the exception to this rule as they will often keep for 1-3 years depending on which brands you buy.

Mascaras & Liquid Eyeliners (3-6 Months) - Mascaras typically have the shortest lifespan in your makeup bag, and many experts recommend that you bin them after they've been open for 3 months to avoid getting eye infections caused by bacteria getting into the tube (this is also why you should NEVER share your mascara with your friends!). If your mascara hasn't dried out by then, and you don't have any problems with eye infections, you can use it for anywhere between 4-6 months, but keep an eye on that look/smell/performance test and bin it when it doesn't tick one of those boxes. Same goes for liquid eyeliners.  

Any Liquid & Cream Products: Foundations, Concealers, Lipglosses, Cheek Stains, Cream Eyeshadows etc (1 year) -  The guideline for any product that has a liquid/cream consistency is around a year as they contain a lot more water and hydrating ingredients that bacteria likes to grow in. Again, enlist the look/smell/performance test as these products will often change texture or separate when they start going bad.

Pencil Liners: Lipliners & Eyeliners (1-2 years) - Most pencil liners will keep for around 2 years, but if you don't put their lids back on properly and don't sharpen them regularly, they can start to go off in a year due to air exposure and bacteria build-up.

Lipsticks (2 years) - Lipsticks are the main exception to the cream based rule as they are often formulated with 'sturdier' binding ingredients to help it keep its form for longer. However, you do need to keep them clean and make sure the lids are put straight back on after use. If you carry a lippie in your handbag, go for one with a magnetic lid to stop it falling off in your bag.

Powder Products: Eyeshadows, Blushers, Bronzers, Highlighters, Foundations (2 years) - If you don't wear makeup daily or often, powder products are a much better option than their liquid counterparts, as the lack of water content means they can fend off bacteria for longer periods of time. That said, you do still need to use them with clean makeup brushes, and close lids on any compacts after use.

Nail Polish (2 years) - Nail Polish is a funny one. Most people say around 2 years, but I've found that different brands keep longer than others, so I always go by how it looks and how it still performs, before deciding whether to throw it out. If it's gone gloopy though, I'll bin it. 

Have you had a Spring Clean through your makeup collection recently?

Do you throw out expired products regularly?

*Special thanks to Just My Look for providing the makeup products above to illustrate this feature. Check them out if you need to stock up on any new makeup here!

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March Beauty Favourites

How is it April already?! I discovered a lot of new products during March, but here are my top beauty picks that I'd recommend getting your hands on.

ILIA Vivid Foundation & Perfecting Buffing Brush*

I've been loving a natural, healthy looking, slightly dewy base at the moment, and ILIA's Vivid Foundation has been the perfect choice for achieving this. It's also brilliant for making dull skin look more glowy and it has really great buildable coverage. I've been using it mostly with ILIA's Perfecting Buffing Brush which is a fab little kabuki-style brush, and it buffs and blends everything perfectly. You can check out my more in-depth review of these two here. 

Bean Body Facial Exfoliant* (100ml, £14.95, link)

Whilst you can technically use coffee-based body scrubs on your face, I personally find them a little too harsh for that area as I have sensitive skin, so I was pleased to see Bean Body bring out a dedicated facial exfoliator back in February. I've used their body scrubs many times (in fact, I have one or two of their packets currently on the go in my bathroom!), and I now love this new exfoliator as it's much more gentle for the face, yet shares many of the same beneficial, natural ingredients as the body scrubs do. A good one to use first thing in the morning to perk up your skin and make it look more awake!

DHC Mascara Perfect Pro Double Protection* (5g, £15.90, link) 

I'm sure you've spotted this mascara doing the rounds on the blogosphere lately, and yes the hype is real! It's gotten a lot of attention since Emma Watson named it her favourite mascara (and apparently it's the only one she uses on herself), and being a dedicated Watson/Mascara fan, I obviously had to try it for myself. It features a clever kind of water-resistant tube technology which basically means that it gives you long, defined, black lashes that won't smudge or flake - yet you can remove it with just warm water at the end of the day. Genius stuff! I also really like the skinny, small wand for applying on my lower lashes too.

Naturally Tribal IYA Women's Body Food* (150ml, £16, link)

I experienced a really horrible eczema flare-up last month and this pot of moisturising goodness definitely helped to calm everything down. It's a super thick and rich, all-purpose moisturiser that's mainly made from high-grade Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, and has a little Sweet Orange Essential Oil in it for a subtle pleasant scent. It's done an amazing job of keeping my dry skin hydrated and really helps to soothe any inflammation or irritation. All of Naturally Tribal's products have ingredients that are sourced ethically and fairly from the women's tribes in Esan in Nigeria which helps their families and the local communities to become more self-sufficient.

F.E.T.E Bamboo Toothbrush* (£5, link)

I've mentioned on here before about the eco-friendly benefits of swapping your disposable plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one, so I was pleased to come across F.E.T.E (From Earth To Earth) who are a small UK business that currently makes sustainable toothbrushes. These bamboo ones are naturally antibacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal, and feature 100% biodegradable nylon bristles. An easy way to make a small, but significant, green swap in your life and stop another plastic toothbrush going straight into a landfill site! Available singularly or in a family-sized pack of four for £15.

Which beauty products have you been lovely recently?

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What I've Been Reading Lately: March Books Roundup

 A round-up of the books that I read last month:-

The Continuous Katherine Mortenhoe by D. G Compton

Science Fiction / Dystopia: "When Katherine Mortenhoe is told that she has about four weeks to live, she knows it's not just her life she's about to lose but her privacy as well." 

Having read a lot of contemporary science fiction, I wanted to explore more of the classics and books that were published in the 50s, 60s and 70s as so much of the modern sci-fi stuff is based on concepts and themes from decades ago. The Continous Katherine Mortenhoe is heralded as a 'forgotten classic' and was published in 1974. 

The story is set in a world where modern medicine has found cures for all common illnesses and diseases, and so people now live a healthy life and only die of natural causes related to old age or a freak accident. Yet, there's a tiny percentage of the population who cannot be cured because they have diseases or illnesses which are incredibly rare, and thus society has turned these people into celebrities as everyone else is utterly fascinated with those who can actually die much younger. These 'celebrities' are paraded on reality TV for audiences to gawk at as they watch them live out their last days live on screen before death finally comes knocking.

Katherine Mortenhoe is one such woman who has been told she has an incurable disease and with only four weeks left to live, she becomes an immediate media sensation. The novel pre-empts our insatiable thirst for reality TV, and brings up important issues of privacy and ethics. There's a satirical sense of humour running through it which I loved, and it's easy to see why so many other writers were influenced by this. Well worth a read. [4/5]

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Young Adult / Contemporary: "Christopher is fifteen and has Asperger's Syndrome. He knows a very great deal about maths and very little about human beings. He has never gone further than the end of the road on his own, but when he finds a neighbour's dog murdered he sets out on a terrifying journey which will turn his whole world upside down."

Having more books on my shelves than I could possibly ever read in a lifetime, often means that I simply 'miss' a lot of the big bestsellers of the time, only to discover them years after everyone was talking about them. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is one such book that I remember from well over ten years ago, and I've only just gotten around to reading it this month. Better late than never eh?

This book received a lot of attention because of its young protagonist who has Asperger's Syndrome. It gives us, the reader, a unique insight into the 15-year-old mindset of a boy who has AS, and how he views the world in his own special way. I was already familiar with some of the more common traits of Asperger's before reading this, so I guess the story didn't have that initial shock impact for me, that it may have done for other people. It just seemed far too gimmicky and simplistic (even for a YA novel) with a dull storyline. Not for me. [2/5]

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King

Short Stories / Horror: "You are strapped in an airline seat on a flight beyond hell. You are forced into a hunt for the most horrifying secret a small town ever hid. You are trapped in the demonic depths of a writer's worst nightmare. You are focusing in on a beast bent on shredding your sanity."

One main problem that you can easily encounter with a short story is that sometimes they can completely hook you in, but then because of their briefness, they can end far too early and leave too many questions unanswered. However, with Stephen King's Four Past Midnight, it contains four full-length novellas which you can really get your teeth stuck into.

This collection begins with The Langoliers, a fast-paced horror nightmare which begins on a plane and lands in a strange, alien world with only a handful of your fellow passengers for company. It has a strong Twilight Zone vibe to it and is my favourite of the four as it shows King at his best. The second story, Secret Window, Secret Garden, was a hard one for me to get into and features an altercation between two writers as one accuses the other of stealing his story. It's a little slow and just didn't particularly grip me. 

The Library Policeman is the third story and strangely explores the world of the 'library police' who come after you if you haven't returned your books on time. It's a little silly, but builds up a good sense of suspense and is surprisingly very entertaining. Lastly, The Sun Dog completes the collection with a tale of an evil dog that appears to be hidden in an old polaroid camera and makes himself seen through the photos that it takes. It starts off so well, yet seems to get too disjointed half-way through and loses its momentum - it could have been so much more intriguing.

A bit of a mixed bag, but a solid 3/5 for the most part. [3/5]

A Pukka Life by Sebastian Pole*

Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Ayurveda: "'A Pukka Life' is about living in a truly authentic way, guided by the wisdom of Ayurveda. Also known as 'the science of life', Ayurveda is a complete system of knowledge that deals with physical health, mental balance, spiritual wellbeing, social welfare, relationships, environmental issues, dietary and lifestyle habits and more."

For this month's non-fiction read, I decided to educate myself about Ayurveda, which is something that I've been meaning to read up on for a while. Written by Sebastian Pole (co-founder of Pukka Herbs - read my interview with the man himself here), A Pukka Life offers a beginner's guide to Ayurveda, based on its holistic principles of keeping everything in balance and living a kind, happy and considerate life. 

It explains the basics of Ayurveda in an engaging and accessible tone, and covers a range of subjects including Consitution (finding out what 'dosha' you are), Nourishment (following a healthy diet that's good for your 'agni'), Cleansing, Rejuvenation (secrets to keeping young in mind and body), and Ecology to name a few. The books is laid out beautifully and is perfect to dip in and out of, or use for reference at a later date. If you're new to Ayurveda and need a book to start you off on your journey, pick this one up. [4/5]

What have you been reading lately?

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March Empties: Products I've Used Up

Time caught up with me during March and I didn't finish nearly as many products as I'd hoped to, but I'm still pretty pleased with what I did manage to use up! Here are my recent Empties.

Original Source Shower Gel in Pink Grapefruit

For every luxury pampering product that there is in my bathroom, there will be at least two other budget friendly options on hand as I like to mix and match what I use, which keeps my student bank balance in check somewhat! The Original Source Shower Gels are one of my all time budget faves as you can always find these on offer for £1 somewhere, and the scents are amazing. It's also one of the few SLS based shower gels that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin for some reason, so I always stock up on them. Pink Grapefruit is a flavour I've used many times before because it's a fresh, summery, juicy/fruity scent that always cheers me up! Repurchase? Yes.

Angela Langford Balancing Act Daily Moisturiser*

This has been a lovely morning moisturiser from Angela Langford, whose skincare range I first discovered some time last year. It's specially formulated for combination skin, so it feels light and hydrating where it needs to be, and it helps to balance out the oilier areas like the t-zone without being stripping or mattifying. Repurchase? Whilst I do like this a lot, there are other moisturisers that I love more, so I probably wouldn't repurchase it again unless I spotted it on offer.

Therapie Equilibrium Bath & Shower Essence

I absolutely adore everything that I've tried from Therapie so far and this Equilibrium Bath & Shower Essence is pure heaven in a bottle. It smells just incredible (thanks to lots of essential oils like Fragonia, Persian Rose, Sandalwood, Lavender, Jasmine etc) and really helps you to unwind after a stressful or busy day. If I've been feeling particularly anxious about something, I'll treat myself to a relaxing bath with two capfuls of this in it, and I'll instantly feel better. It's expensive, but totally worth it IMO. Repurchase? I'm already saving up for the full-size bottle!

Nourish Kale Biometric Anti-Ageing Eye Cream

It's rare for me to repurchase eye creams as I'm constantly looking for 'that next best thing', so it goes to show how much I love this product as this is the third tube that I've gone through. I mainly use this as my morning eye cream as it's quite light and absorbs quickly so I can get on with applying my concealer straight away. I really like the slim compact packaging too. Repurchase? I have a bunch of eye creams to get through at the moment, but I'll definitely buy it again in the future.   

Abel Organics Vintage 13 Eau de Parfum

I finally finished up a perfume! It takes me forever to use up a bottle so that's quite an achievement for me! I'm very sad to see this one go though as it was a present from my sister, and I've been unable to find anything that smells remotely similar to it. It's a very unique, unisex, earthy/musky fragrance, that's all natural, 100% organic and has notes of Bergamot, Black Pepper, Vanilla, Sandalwood and Vetiver. Repurchase? It's definitely something that I'd love to receive as a gift again, but it's far too expensive for me to repurchase at the moment!

Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream*

I absolutely love this stuff. I had a couple of these sachet samples left over from a goody bag last year and I promised myself that I wouldn't buy a tub of it until I'd used up all of those first - which I've now done! If you have dry or eczema-prone skin, this is a must-try as it's made from just a handful of natural ingredients and it does a fantastic job of hydrating and soothing any skin irritation/problem. Repurchase? Yes

What beauty products have you used up recently?

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