When do you throw away makeup? Do you follow the guidelines?
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I only follow the guidelines on products like sunscreen or skincare (based on opening date) as well as mascara. Otherwise, I go by smell, taste, texture, consistency, etc.
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I do the same thing; only mascara and moisturizers/creams do I follow the guidelines. Things like eyeshadows or powders I keep as long as they look ok!
when it comes to eyeshadows, liners, etc., i just make sure i clean them frequently at least to prolong the life of them. i always think that me not using a specific product a lot and keeping it closed can add to the shelf life of it. but when it comes to mascaras i think i am like everyone else, and i get rid of them when the guidelines say for me to trash them.
No, I don’t follow the guidelines at all… I should with mascara, but I have so many (10 or so) that I don’t use them every day… so if I followed guidelines with mascara I’d end up throwing them away after using them like 3 or 4 times maybe! So I’ll throw makeup away when the word “funny” applies to it (smells funny, looks funny…) As for Skin Care, I’d say I follow the guidelines just because I don’t stock up in skin care, I run out of it frequently (please somebody tell Clinique to have a “back 2 Clinique” program, for God’s sake!!!).
I hate throwing away eye shadows!!
same here!! ( i never do, unless were are a cheap-o brand)
I only really care about expiration guidelines on sunscreen, because I want to make sure it’s going to protect my skin. With all other stuff, I go by how the product seems. I throw mascara away when it starts to get too thick or dry, I throw lip products away when they smell or taste bad, etc. I wouldn’t use ancient moisturizer or foundation, but I don’t usually have that stuff long enough to worry about it going bad.
I do the same as you because as yo uare as sanitary as you can be with your makeup then you can go past the use by dates on thing, also is it just me or don’t MAC put how many months you can use thier products on the bottom of them ? Because in the UK most make up and skincare has how many months you can use it for before throwing it out.
I take good care of my stuff, so I’ll only throw makeup away if it smells bad and/or looks weird. I throw mascaras away when they start drying out and flaking. Obviously, mascaras just don’t last that long.
i definitely try to follow guidelines with anything liquid, like skincare, liquid foundations and stuff. i don’t really follow guidelines for mascaras because i have tons open, but i try to go through them every couple of months to check if they’re clumpy or drying out or smell weird (although most mascara smells weird from the start to me).
I toss if it starts to smell really bad. no guidelines paid too much money for my nice makeup.
Only mascaras or or foundations if they smell funny or texture changes. Then again I only have 1 foundation and 1 mascara at a time. That’s it though, I keep everything else forever. In my opinion, having to toss out e/s, blushes, powder after a certain amount of time is just made up my mu companies to keep us buying from them.
I follow the recomendations on liquids and creams, like mascara, liquid liner, foundation and skincare. Powders however I keep as long as they look good, unless they’re ancient.
for other stuff beside sunscreen, mascara and moisturizer…what is the worst that could possibly happen if its used beyond “expiry” date?…just asking.
I do the same thing Christine, especially with mascara.
Skincare stuff I tend to discard when something better comes along, and mascaras when their consistency starts going funny. I have some lipsticks and eyeshadows which are over 20 years old, a few even nearer 30 years old! and still OK in texture and smell, and even apply perfectly. I am the only person who uses them, so no contamination from anyone else. I do throw them out if they start to go “funny” in any way, though. Sometimes I think the ‘guidelines’ given are a way of encouraging further sales.
Me too. I dont follow guidelines. I have eyeshadows that are over 5 yrs old and they are still ok. I take care of my makeup probably why they last.
I’m pretty bad with tossing stuff. If it’s obviously expired (lotions, liquid foundations, flaky mascara) I’ll chuck it, but if it’s eyeliner or eyeshadow and blush etc I hang on to it for dear life. Most of my stuff is mineral makeup now so it’s not going to go bad for a long time so that makes me feel better 😀
i keep eyeshadows, blushes, and foundations until they turn bad but i throw mascaras out every 3-6 months depending on the usage and i usually finish my moisturizers so I don’t throw them out. Unlike my makeup I only buy one moisturizer at a time ^^
i try to use things up, but if a cream product is really off i toss it. i never follow mascara guidelines… if i can get 5 months out of a mascara, i will.
No guidelines for me. I throw them out when the consistency or smell have changed. If the lipstick still smells fresh and the texture is perfect, why I am going to throw it away? Not all cosmetics are made equally, and some use oils and chemicals that can endure more than others. Organic/natural products tend to last less, so I use my own judgement before throwing them away.
Mascara tosses out after one month because I use contactlinses. Everything else it depends if the consistens and smell changes.
I do the same thing. Also, if it’s something I know I’ve had a while but haven’t used, like glosses or liners, I toss them. Other stuff like shadows or blush I may pass it along to my mom in law.
Mascara every 3 months. Moisturizers I usually finish within 6 months, so they can’t really go bad. Powders, once the color starts to turn from its original. Pencils, once they dry out. Other items vary, just depending on one when start to go bad and there’s no way I will use up all of the product.
lol taste? Well besides lipstick and glosses, its hard to imagine you chugging a bottle of foundation lol jk
I don’t usually throw out stuff unless I get a reaction. Mascara is the only stuff I throw away after 3 months or even before. Like most of my stuff I only use like once every six months – if its eyeshadow, blush. I dont follow guidelines on when to throw away stuff. If its working ok, it stays.
taste? Seriously? When would one taste makeup to find out if it went bad or not. Last i checked, makeup is not a food. LOL .. but living in usa, i guess any chemical ingredient can be considered “food”
If you have a lipgloss and subconsciously lick your lips and the taste is off, you’ll know it. Or if you get the taste when you drink/eat.
Nope. Not even Mascara. I always apply it when my face is clean and have never had problems.
I regularly throw mascara out (three months or when it’s very clumpy). The only makeup that I have thrown out besides mascara is an eyeshadow and a blush, and it is because the eyeshadow got loose because there’s barely anything left and the blush is 5 years old.
Pretty much same as you Christine! Though some products I love the packaging that I keep it, but never use it.
mascara – every 3-5 months or earlier if it goes bad.
i love MAC lip glass and the vanilla smell. At least when it smells bad, i know to B2M the item…
don’t usually follow guidelines but i’ll trust my instincts…
i only throw away my mascaras once they start to clump or flake good indicative that it’s gone bad :o) But other than that i don’t really clean out my stash
I keep my mascara way longer than 3 months haha.
I follow rule that if it starts to smell funky, get rid of it! This is very helpful when it comes to mascaras and creams.
I am most careful about mascara because those little tubes harbor a lot of bacteria!
I only follow the throw away rule for things that are wet. Moisture grows bacteria which is yucky. Powders are fair game as long as they work properly.
Mascara is not a problem for me, I usually use it up way before the exp date. The rest – if it looks ok and smells ok I’ll use it. If it goes on smoothly I’ll use it.
I only throw eyeshadow away if I break it and can no longer use it! I’ve found that Mac eyeshadows do not got bad as long as you take care of them & properly store them. I have some shades that I’ve had for over 10 years!!! I basically have one foundation, 1 mascara, etc that I use til I run out (abt 4-6 monts). Blushes last longer b/c I have several but again, they are MAC which just never seems to go bad!
Sarah
Never. I still have make up from my teens, and that was nearly 20 years ago.
I don’t follow the guidelines at all except if it smells or looks bad. For mascara when it starts drying.
I only take care whith skincares and bodycares.
Stop feeling guilty about the mascara three month issue! I read a report from an optometrist that says the preservatives in mascara don’t make for a very good bacterial environment. The only bacteria present in mascara is naturally occurring anyway. Bad bacteria like mould can only live on food not on something like mascara. The only time you should change mascaras is in the case it has dried up or you’ve had an eye infection. ^^
As many others have said, skincare and any liquid based makeup (i.e. foundation)I try to use up a jar/bottle as fast as I can (especially mascara, never more than 6 months, in anycase it dries up faster).
Lippies… i throw them away when they smell weird. Shadows, liners and all powder based makeup basically never gets bad so I keep it!
only mascara!! it will kill me to throw them out every three months or a year like they say!! i love my make up too much to do that!! but if i really have too then i do!!
OMG me too!!
i go by the texture of the product – but still, everytime i have to throw out a mascara / makeup….when it hits the garbage, i get this pinch.
almost like i’m gonna start tearing up! LOL
The only thing I have really even thrown out is mascara. And, that’s not based on expiry dates so much as it’s dried up, too clumpy, or finished.
Skin products never last long enough for them to be tossed.
I haven’t thrown anything away yet, but I’m guessing that whenever it decides to smell and look nasty then I will. 🙂
I follow the guidelines on almost everything except eyeshadow. And I usually look forward for the smell and texture.
I follow guidelines on, er, well nothing I guess. I have so many mascaras open at one that I’ve frozen half of them to keep them longer. I’ll chuck the others ones I’m using when they start to apply dry and flaky. Foundations/lip items – when they smell funny. Powders I can’t bear to throw away. I usually try to give them away.
I don’t follow the guidelines but I keep an eye on the consistency and sniff every now and then. I keep my mascaras tightly shut and avoid certain makeup when I’m sick so I don’t contaminate everything. Only with sunscreen do I really follow the expiration date.
I’m glad this question was asked. I haven’t thrown away makeup in awhile, because it lasts me a long time (I like to use different shades, for different occasions and seasons, so it takes FOREVER to make the slightest dent in my makeup), but I’d toss it if it looks/feels off.
I have one question, though, regarding those products where a little goes a long way (i.e. my liquid luminizer): I mean, these are particular products that can last a person YEARS (well, for me). I usually dab my finger in it because the pump sucks and deposits way too much..
Will any bacteria that gets inside really do some damage to my skin/health?
I guess what I’m asking is, what are the side effects of continuing longterm use of these types of products? I just can’t seem to fathom tossing it when it still works well, was super pricey, and there’s still a lot left. Sorry if that sounds confusing! :/
Liquid/cream products have the shortest lifespan technically, but it depends on how you use it and how sanitary you are (and I don’t mean to imply that you throw dirt at yours or anything!). I’d say the recommended life is 1-2 years, but many people use products well beyond those limits. I haven’t heard too many *confirmed* horror stories – I think the biggest might be styes (which you can get in the eyes).
Ah. I see. I just got paranoid all of a sudden, mainly because my makeup addiction will reach an all-time high every so often and never do I stop to think of its shelf life!