We’re not talking
about colors you thought were cool in high school or skin tone shades
when you used to tan darker in the summer.
All makeup has an
expiration date or shelf life. That’s because once makeup is
opened, it begins to deteriorate. Some types of makeup can become
dried out and unusable. Alternatively, moisture can encourage
microbial growth that can infect your eyes and skin.
How makeup is used
and stored also makes a difference in how long it is safe to use. How
can you tell when to toss various items?
First, you
should record when you purchased (or first opened) that tube of
mascara or lipstick. Use a permanent marker on the container or stick
on a piece of masking tape to write down the month (and year). That
establishes the starting point.
Finding the
expiration date on makeup is harder than with food. Not all makeup
products even have any expiration information posted! But many have a
Period After Opening (PAO) symbol. This looks like a little
open jar with a number and letter inside it. Maybe it says “1Y”
or “3M.” Those mean “1 year” or “3 months.” Now you can
calculate when you need to discard that item.
Here’s a list of
PAO dates for various types of makeup.
A special note about
mascara: Don’t “pump” the mascara wand in and out of the tube.
That introduces air, which dries out the mascara, and can bring in
germs as well.
Proper storage is
important to keep cosmetics fresh. Store products in a cool dry place
out of the sun. The bathroom is not a good place to store makeup;
it’s too hot and humid, which encourage microbial growth. Some
makeup undergoes changes in color, odor or texture when exposed to
high temperatures and sunlight.
A better place to
store makeup is in a clear plastic container in your bedroom. If you
keep each makeup item in its original box, that will cut down on
damaging exposure to air, heat and sunlight.
Lipstick keeps well
in the refrigerator. (It feels nice and cool when you apply it, a
bonus in hot weather.)
You’ll also want
to keep the items you use to apply makeup clean. Researchers found that nine out of ten makeup applicator brushes and sponges had
nasty germs such as E coli and Staphylococci growing on
them. They pick up these germs from your skin and from being dropped
on the floor. (OOPS!)
These bacteria can
cause skin infections and blood poisoning. Keep your skin healthy by
washing beauty blender sponges after each use and replacing
them every 3 months. Wash brushes you use on dry cosmetics once
a week and those you use with wet products after every use.
Keep your makeup
clean and healthy, and your skin will thank you.
