How long is eye makeup good for?

We all have that one eyeshadow palette that's been around as long as we can remember. Failing that, it's a tube of mascara that appears to be bottomless. The point is that we all have some makeup products that stick around longer than others, but does makeup expire? If not, there's no real incentive to declutter our makeup stations and waste what seems to be perfectly intact makeup products. However, we're here to burst the bubble and say what we all may have needed to hear- all makeup expires eventually, so it's time to refresh our makeup bags.

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Here's everything you need to know about eye makeup expiry dates.

How long does mascara last?

So, does makeup expire? Yes, yes it does. However, some products thankfully last longer than others.

For example, one of the most common queries is how long does mascara last. A daily essential, it makes sense to be concerned about the shelf-life of this make-up bag necessity. However, it's a question few know the exact answer to. You will find some clues that your mascara is reaching its shelf life when the formula feels clumpy and dry. However, the exact period of time how long a mascara lasts is six months.

Luckily, our innovative squeezy-tube  technology that's used in the packaging of our mascaras, such as the iconic Eyeko Limitless Lengthening Mascara, mean s you can use everything up before it expires- reduce waste and get the most out of your hard-earned money!

1. Firstly, when you squeeze our mascara tubes, you warm up the product inside, making it easier to apply and get out onto the wand.
2. Secondly, the tubing packaging means you can avoid pumping. Pumping the wand in and out pushes air into the tube which will make the product dry out faster, decreasing how long mascara lasts to far before its expiration date. If you want more product, simply twist the wand back and forth while it is inside the tube to pick up more mascara.

So, while makeup does expire, there are steps that you can take to make the most of your products up until the sad day comes when it's time to toss.

When do eyeshadows expire?

Luckily, you can hang on to your eyeshadows for a bit longer. The time from opening to when eyeshadows expire is 12 months but if left unopened, you have a full three years to hang onto them. This is because eyeshadow palettes are generally made with powder formulas. Therefore, they don't harbor as much bacteria as other, liquid makeup products.

To get the most out of your palette before the time comes when eyeshadows expire, always make sure to close it after using it to avoid oxidation, which can change the color of powders. Also, always make sure your fingers or brushes (however you apply your eyeshadow) are clean before rubbing them onto the different shades! It's the least you can do to stop bacteria from getting all over your lovely new Limitless Eyeshadow Palette.

When does liquid eyeliner expire and how long do pencils last?

So when does liquid eyeliner expire? Liquid eyeliner has the same shelf-life as an eye-pencil, which is six months.

If you notice the pigment has faded or the formula has a strange smell, these are often good indicators that the time when your liquid eyeliner expires is approaching. To prolong your favorite eyeliner s , make sure you always replace the cap tightly and if the time has come for an eyeliner refresh, why not give the Eyeko Black Magic Liquid Eyeliner a go? The s mooth, fluid, single-stroke color glides on and lasts for an all-day finish without fading, helping you to get the maximum use out of it!

When do brow gels expire?

The must-have product at the moment, the brow gel, is loved for sealing all of those stray eyebrow hairs into place in an instant. Easy-to-apply, our Brow Gel is guaranteed to give you a laminated brow look without the salon up to six months after opening. To ensure you&#;re keeping your gel at its highest quality, always keep the lid tightly secured. What&#;s even better? Just like our mascaras, our eyebrow gel also comes in a squeezy tube so you&#;re certain to make the most of every drop!

How long do eyebrow pencils last?

Finally, let's take a look at how long eyebrow pencils last. The least of your worries, eyebrow pencils last as long as 36 months and 12 months when opened. Plus, with the angled tip of our Define It Brow Pencil, you can get the most precise application and leave nothing to waste!

In conclusion, unfortunately, if you ask does makeup expire, the answer will always be yes. However, while all products do ultimately see the end, there are certainly little tips and tricks you can take to get the most out of your essentials. When the time does come, treat yourself to a brand new version of your favorites and give your makeup a spring clean. Our eyes are delicate and precious, so it's always better to be safe than sorry!

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But don&#;t panic just yet. If you happen to use a blush or foundation after it&#;s expired, you might not experience any side effects. According to Koestline, it all depends on the formulation. &#;Makeup products that do not directly touch your eyes and/or lips and products that do not contain any water (anhydrous) can be used safely beyond their date of expiration,&#; she says. &#;It is not ideal, but if care is taken to minimize contamination, the risks of infection from expired makeup are quite low.&#;  

The one product that has very little downside, at least health-wise, when used after an expiration date is nail polish. She explains that nail polish formulations have several preservatives to prevent bacterial growth, it is rare that someone will get a skin infection or skin irritation from using an expired polish. 

How to Tell If Makeup Has Expired

"It is important to look at cosmetics kind of like foods," says skin care specialist Kristina Holey, whose work focuses on how cosmetic formulation affects skin anatomy. Using expired skin care products and makeup can be dangerous to the health of our complexions. The easiest way to know when to throw an eye shadow or concealer away is to look at the packaging. Most come with a tiny image of an open-lid pot with a number like &#;12m,&#; which means the product has a lifespan of twelve months. Those are the makeup expiration dates that you should look. But so much of a product's freshness depends on how it's stored and used (which we&#;ll get into later). 

If you can&#;t find that label anywhere on your product, there are a few clear signs that signal it&#;s time to say goodbye. The most obvious is visible mold or yeast growth. Koestline says this will be pretty easy to notice as it will have a black, gray, or green growth on top of the product, similar to what you might find on moldy bread. Other signs, she says, include a weird taste or smell, having visible separation in liquid formulas (such as oil sitting on top, several layers forming, or you need to shake before using it), or a distinct color change. 

General Lifespan of Products

Depending on where on your face you use a makeup product or what the formulation is, expiration dates will differ from each other. Longer shelf lives are afforded to products that aren't water-based. "Products without oil or water still have a lifespan," Holey says. "They can harbor bacteria and the pigments themselves can begin to break down over time." Lolis and Koestline break down a general guideline for each product that&#;s pretty easy for everyone to follow: 

Lipstick: 1 to 3 years

Koestline says that for both cream and liquid formulations, you have to look at if the product contains water or not. If anhydrous (does not contain water), then it&#;s good for about three years if used with a lip brush to avoid contamination. If the formula does contain water, it&#;s good for up to a year. 

Lip Gloss: 1 Year

As far as lip products go, gloss has the shortest shelf life. Because the applicator brush touches your lips directly, Koestline says that you&#;ve got about one year of use before it can go bad. But this is only true if it is anhydrous; glosses made with water will expire before that. 

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Blush: 3 Years

Whether you&#;re using a liquid blush, powder blush, or cream blush, unless the applicator directly touches the skin and is anhydrous, Koestline says that you may even be able to extend blush to three years. 

Contour or Bronzer: 3 Years

Similar to her assessment on blush expiration dates, Koestline says a contour product can last even up to three years depending on the formulation. The same can be appled towards bronzer products, which are generally applied on the same areas that you would place contour or blush.

Foundation: 2 Years 

Cream, powder, or liquid foundation has a long shelf life of about two years. For liquid formulas, Koestline says that if it starts to separate is when you need to toss it. 

Eyeshadow: 1 to 3 Years 

Koestline says eyeshadow that contains any water should only be used for a year since you&#;re using it close to the eye area. If anhydrous, which includes most powder formulas, it can last anywhere from two to three years. 

Eyeliner: 3 to 6 Months

Because eyeliner is applied so close to the eye area or directly on the waterline, both Lolis and Koestline say that they should be replaced every six months. &#;[It&#;s] too risky since the applicator touches eyes directly [and there&#;s a] high risk of infection,&#; explains Koestline. While Lolis says that a pencil eyeliner may last longer than a liquid eyeliner if you sharpen it, it&#;s better to err on the side of caution.

Mascara: 3 to 6 Months

Similar to eyeliner, Lolis and Koestline say that mascara has a high risk of infection because of how close we use it to our eyes. You can expect a shorter shelf life than most products of three to six months. 

Concealer: 6 Months to 2 years 

Lolis says that liquid concealers generally last anywhere from six months to a year, cream formulas for 12 to 18 months, and powders for two years. Koestline says that as long as the applicator doesn&#;t directly touch the skin and if there is no separation in the formula, any concealer you use can be good for up to two years.  

Highlighter: 6 Months to 2 years

Both Lolis and Koestline look at highlighters the same way they look at concealers when it comes to gauging expiration dates, with the longest being two years. 

Nail Polish: 3+ Years

Since you don&#;t have to worry about nail polish causing irritation, you can prolong use until you see separation in the product or if the color looks strange on your nail. But Koestline says that nail polish is generally good for about three years, sometimes even more.  

Fragrance: 3 to 5 Years

Lolis says that fragrances can last a really long time, especially when stored correctly. Koestline says that once the scent starts to change in color or smell differently, then it&#;s probably time to toss it. 

How to Store Makeup Properly 

Knowing the expiration date is just half the battle; you&#;ll want to store products correctly to get the most out of their shelf life. Beauty products should be kept in a cool, dry place, which may mean outside the bathroom, and certainly not deep in a handbag that's left steaming in the car. For face creams and foundations, which usually maintain their quality for three months, Holey insists on dipping in only with clean hands. Unless the product is packaged with an airtight pump, bacteria on your fingers and moisture from the shower can contaminate the bottle.

Makeup enthusiasts can relax their shoulders and exhale, because, according to Holey, using products regularly means you'll likely run out before there's ever an issue. But even for all the minimalists out there, you don&#;t have to panic about letting a product go to waste. Just follow these guidelines and purchase products with the intention of actually using them. Your face (and bank account) will thank you.

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