Its almost officially Spring, and that means that many of us are going to start tearing our homes apart, cleaning out cabinets, closets and the like. But, what about our makeup bags? Most people give little thought about cleaning out their makeup because it can be a major investment, and we probably really love many of the products we use on a daily basis. The thing is that all cosmetics have an expiration date, and using a product past that date can result in the product preforming differently, or could even spread harmful bacteria. Hello, stye! Gross, I know. So, let's clean out our makeup bags so we can be clean and cute this Spring!
The First step is to gather all of your makeup. A kitchen island, table or even your bed would be great places to dump it all out. Maybe, lay down a towel before you spread out your makeup if you think it could get a bit messy. Make sure you get the little bits of makeup from throughout the house, maybe in your office and purse, for instance. Once you have it all laid out, look at each product and decide if it has to stay or go based on the list below. If you can't remember when you bought something, its a safe bet that it's time to go.
When to Trash It
Mascara ~ 3 months
Liquid Eyeliner ~ 6 months
Liquid Foundation 6- 12 months
Lip Gloss & Concealer ~ 1 year
Nail Polish & Lipstick ~ 2 years
Face Powders including Eyeshadow, Bronzer and Blush ~ 2 years
Lip & Eye Pencils ~ 2 years
Some cosmetics may age a bit faster than others, so always be aware of changes in the scent and consistency of a product, because this could be a sign that it needs to be replaced.
I recently replaced a few products that I had used up. Since I have a hard time remembering when I've purchased these products, I decided that I would write the purchase date on the bottom in permanent marker, so that I know exactly when these products have passed their prime. I recommend just keeping the permanent marker in a bathroom drawer, so you can date the product as soon as you bring it home. Notice that on the underside of most of your makeup there is a little icon with a number in it. It looks like a little jar with the lid popped open. This is the manufacturer's expiration date. If the product doesn't have this, you can easily reference the list above.
Since we are Spring cleaning, and all of your makeup is dumped out, this is a perfect opportunity to wash cups that makeup brushes are kept in and wipe out acrylic organizers that you may store makeup in. If you keep your makeup in a traditional bag, I recommend hand washing it as well. Now everything is fresh and tidy! I hope you enjoyed these helpful tips. What are you looking forward to most this Spring?