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Temptalia Asks You - Do you throw out your makeup when you should?

Do you throw out your makeup when you should? Do you toss mascara after 2-3 months? Do you throw away old lipsticks and gloss? Or do you hang on to ’em? Store things in the fridge?

36 Comments

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Marieke Landr Avatar

actually…….no haha
I usually throw make up out when it changes colour/ smells bad or changes consistency…
But if not..I keep it untill it’s all gone haha 😀
I can’t bear to throw out my favorite lipstick!
CiaoOo Marieke

Anitacska Avatar

No, definitely not within the recommended timeframe, I have lipsticks as old as 6-7-8 yrs. But I have recently thrown out some old stuff, partly because they were smelly, partly because I hadn’t use them for a long time and I have so much new stuff anyway. My sister also benefited from my clear out (not the yucky things though). 🙂

DevilishDoll Avatar

Not if it’s eyeshadow or lip products. I actually have an eyeshadow palette that my mom gave me when I was like 8 years old (I’m 22 now) and all of the eyeshadows are still in good condition, it sorta confuses me.

AshBash Avatar

i dont throw them out like im supposed to. i guess i dont wear makeup often enough to use them in time so i hold onto stuff forever. if it doesnt look or smell bad, no need in wasting it.

Jennifer Avatar

Mascara goes every three months, because I use it up fairly regularly and by the end of three months (sometimes two, even) my mascara of the moment is almost gone anyway. Plus it’s the most bacteria-loving of cosmetics. Foundation, powder, and concealer don’t stick around enough to go bad, because I use them regularly. Things like gloss and lipstick only get tossed when they go really and truly bad, which could be years. And I have yet to have a powder blush or shadow go bad on me, but if it ever happens, I’ll throw them out (and replace!). Otherwise, it’s a waste of an investment.

Rachel Avatar

Mascara is the only thing I toss within 3 months, because I have very sensitive eyes and often mascaras don’t work so well for me past three months anyway. Everything else I throw out only when it goes bad (changes smell, texture or colour).

Nicole Avatar

I exchance my mascara every 3 month, meaning 1th of January, April, July and October.
Till now I have never thrown away an eye shadow or other powdery product, but I check my lip products and if there is a change in the smell or consistency I put it in my little basket and bac2mac it.

Anitacska Avatar

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is “Back 2 Mac”? I’ve seen it on my Mac e/s boxes, but don’t actually know what it means.

Jennifer Avatar

It’s a program where you can exchange empty MAC containers (the plastic packaging, not the paper boxes) for a free lipstick (or, at some stores, a lipglass or eyeshadow, depending on the MA/store policy). In the US it’s six empty packagings for one lipstick, it may be more than that elsewhere.

Sara Avatar

To be honest, aside from Mascara, I don’t actually throw anything out. Sometimes I don’t even throw out Mascaras after 3 months, but those are the colored ones which I rarely use. But if I notice stuff looking weird and whatnots I throw them out. But otherwise it’s kind of wasting them a little. haha.

Roxanne Avatar

I agree with the majority of folks in here…
Powders, shadows & lip products hang on until they just look wrong.
But I do replace my mascara, and liquid eyeliner every 3 months.
Anything that’s liquid and prone to bacteria accumulation very close to the eyes get the boot.

Alyson Avatar

Only my mascara…I have very sensitive eyes. Those go in the trash 3 months later to the day. The only exception is if I have one that I only wear rarely, I give it an extra month or so. But my daily wear ones get TOSSED.

Kellye Avatar

No, I certainly don’t throw out things within the “recommended” timeframe. I think the only people recommending this are the cosmetic companies themselves. Sort of like the built-in obsolescence of newer appliances.

Kella Avatar

No. I throw out makeup when it’s empty/close to empty, or I’ve used it a lot (getting old). For example, if a mascara is 3 months old, and I’ve only used it twice, I’m not going to throw it out.

Chica Avatar

I throw out mascara after 3-4 months (if it hasn’t already dried up) and chuck lipglosses & liquid liner away after about a year. I keep powder eyeshadow,blush and mineral foundation until it’s finished though! Although my foundation normally only lasts a year anyway :o)

Iliana Avatar

I try to hold on to as much product as I can -they do cost a fortune anyway!- but that being said, I also do throw them away when they need to be thrown away. Mascara lasts up to 6 months MAX (they rarely ever do since I use them daily), but that’s about it. I go through powders and concealers fastest, so I don’t worry about their expiration dates. As for the rest, I smell and reconsider 😛 It sounds so unhygienic but it somewhat works for me 🙂

Dawn Avatar

I definitely do not. I probably should but i haven’t gotten any fungi or anything yet LOL (knock on wood). I do throw out mascara after a while though, like a couple of years old just because it always seems to clump.

Stephanie Avatar

I only throw out mascara frequently. I use mineral makeup for my face and am careful with that but if do use any liquid/cream face products I throw them out whenever I feel like I’ve had them too long…haha, that was really specific wasn’t it? Lipstick, gloss etc. I keep until they change color, consistency or smell.

maddie Avatar

nope never! lol
i toss them out when the lipstick tastes bad( usu rancid ..ugh)
mascaras i toss when they get clumpy which is usu before 3 months.. i really cant find a good mascara that i totally love.. the closest is Maybelline lash discovery

victoria Avatar

no, like everybody else, only when it changes in smell, consistency, color. but i also hate seeing makeup go to waste because they’re not being used. i know some of my e/s will take me years to finish them or if i have a couple of cream blushes of similar color, i would make an inventory and give the ones i can really let go to my teenage nieces. i have three so i’m sure they will use them up and i don’t have to worry about anything going to waste.

Tekoa Avatar

Other than mascara, I don’t even know what the “expiry date” is for other things. Mascara gets tossed/Back to Mac when it starts getting clumpy.

Yasmin Avatar

I usually throw it away for one of the following reasons:

1. I don’t like it.
2. It breaks me out of I have another type of reaction to it.
3. It changes color or consistency.
4. It smells horrible.
5. I find a product that does the same thing only better!

Vivian Avatar

No, no and no! LOL I don’t believe that stuff since I NEVER share my makeup stuff. I only swtached one colors and give them to my closed ones when I don’t like how they look on my skin. Second, I own a lot makeup, but I don’t put them on my face often; I’m lazy. (I mostly own eye shadows, lips)

And the mascara, they do clump after a while. But some of the mascaras I bought state that 9M or 12M after opening, so I got no problem. However, I really think that cosmetics comapny put new formulas into mascaras so that they clump after a while. C’mon, liquid shadow=reaching into the wand every time you use it, but they last much longer..?

Bottom line: I throw it away when it’s becoming bad or smells horrible.

Betty Avatar

No way… i luv my makeup too much! except when it is empty, but it still makes me sad to see them in the garbage. Anyway, last makeup that i threw away was from.. CLINIQUE and INGLOT. not because of the smell or anything, but because it started giving me pimples.

Asta Avatar

Nope. I get rid of mascara when it’s gone or it starts to change consistency/dry out. Usually not more than 6 months. I have an ice blue lipstick from middle school (circa ’98) that hasn’t dried out yet. I throw out icky colors or stuff I never use, unless I think I might use it for costume/stage makeup.

HeavenLeiBlu Avatar

Masacara, definitely, but now that I have some of the Urban Decay Big Fatty Colored mascaras,I’m kinda hesitant because there’s no way I’ll use thme upin 3 months. I’ll play it by ear. For everything else, it gets tossed if I notice a funny smell or change in consistency.

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