Break up with your makeup! WHAT. I know stay with me. I am not suggesting you all go out into the world with a naked face.
I understand some of you have lots of lotions and potions. You may buy makeup every time you are in the drugstore, grocery store, beauty bar or department store. But have you tossed out the old?
Do you have mascara from the last decade? How about your eye makeup? How old it is? Do you have lipstick or lip gloss that is older than your youngest child?
Not only can all those tubes, cases, bottles and pencils create clutter, but they can be dangerous to your health.
Old expired makeup can cause allergies.
Expired makeup can cause breakouts and infections like pink eye, acne, and worse. This is especially true with mascara, liners and foundations. “When a product expires this means that the preservatives have stopped being as effective as they once were or have stopped working altogether. This can lead to infections,” says Dr. Gary Goldfaden.
Wow, none of those things sound good or will make you look better.
Here are the rules on when you should throw away your makeup.
Foundations, creams, powders, and lipsticks that are over a year old although many experts say you should toss your mascara after 3 months.
Any eyeliners, mascaras, shadows, or lip glosses should be tossed if you’ve had for more than six months.
OK, now you know so lets fix this and get organized:
Sort through all of your cosmetics and toss anything that you can’t remember when you purchased it. Chances are that it well exceeds the limit if you can’t remember when you bought it.
Clean your brushes on a regular basis and if you use sponges those should be cleaned each time and tossed every month.
This is one time where I will tell you to throw your old stuff away. Don’t donate it or give it away.
I have a “Rev-a-shelf” drawer organizer (Rev-A-Shelf COSK-18) that I use for my makeup brush storage. I also use a makeup bag to store my products. I pull the bag out and empty all the products I use. Once used, I drop it back in the bag. I know when I am done all the products will be back in the bag. That makes it so easy to return the entire thing in the drawer. Also, if I need to pack quickly for a trip it is already contained and I only have to grab a few brushes.
Bonus Tip to know went to replace your makeup is to note it on the inside door of your medicine cabinet. I use this to remind me when I change the toothbrushas well. Write your notes with a grease pencil (I use my old lip pencil before I toss) If you were so inclined, you could paint the inside of your door with chalkboard paint and use chalk.
Did you know that you can convert any hard surface to a “white-board” Just by painting over it with a special CLEAR IdeaPaint, Wow who knew. The possibilities are endless You can also use an ordinary any color dry erase maker to write on glass. Yes all glass.
According to Julie Longyear of Blissoma holistic skin care and apothecary. “One great alternative for makeup that would not technically expire is mineral makeup,” says Longyear. As there is no water or oils in the products they don’t grow bacteria or go bad. As a lady that doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, most of my eyeshadows are loose mineral powders. That equals an investment that is safe for a long time.
As you know I am not a makeup specialist. I am an Organizer. If you want to read more tips on makeup from Aly Walansky at Stylecaster expired-makeup.
I love to hear from you so feel free to start a discussion.
Thanks Pamela
🙂 I regularly chuck out old make-up.
Fortunately I get samples every now and then. Things I’ve tried and tested for my blog and that I don’t need I pass on to friends and family. There’s always somebody out there who’s happy to receive a nail polish, an eye shadow or a lipstick. I use q-tips for using these products to keep them “clean” best as possible. So that somebody who gets these things doesn’t have to worry about my germs 😀
Have a very HAPPY Sunday 🙂
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Great you are doing the right thing. Thanks so much. Happy Sunday to you as well.
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Great post with important health information. I used to wear contact lenses so I am very conscientious in checking my makeup.
Good reminders, thank you 🙂 x
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Thanks Samantha! Have a great day.
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Great post.. i never had loads of make up.. but now i have even less and loving less
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Outstanding. Me too. I don’t wear makeup often but I have to make a note on the side of them to know when I bought them.
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I got rid so much old stuff it is only new sruff.. but mascra is out date in 3 montgs they say
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Good Job!
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I don’t wear a lot of makeup, so it’s easy for me to keep mine fresh and organized. I do have to put the mascara on “check up” since that needs tossing more often, and those 3 months can go by very quickly! Great post for the start of the year! 🙂
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Agreed. Mine too. Thanks so much.
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Great reminder! I have not done this in a while so I think it might be time to have at that drawer again. I have never worn foundation so good to go on that one. Whew!!
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Thanks. I had to toss my mascara. I write the date on the tube so I can know when to toss since I can’t remember when purchases are made.
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That is a great idea. I have put lavender Essential Oil in my mascara as it is supposed to be good for my eyelashes.
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Wow I have some Young Living lavender oil I may have to try that. I love Lavender! Great for allergies, sleepless nights and now lovely lashes. Thanks so much.
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sounds like you use Lavender for the same things I do! Have you used the Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint combo?
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No but that sounds fabulous. Love each of those separately. Do you put yours in capsules and take internally?
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I have not taken that internally but I know a friend who does. I put 20 drops of each in a 10 ml roller bottle top off with carrier oil (I use grapeseed) and roll on back of neck under hairline, behind my ears and on my feet to support my respiratory system. I love it!
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Nice. You are such a good source of information. Thanks for sharing.
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Pamela, I love this post!!! Totally true 😉
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Thanks so much. Have a wonderful week.
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Hi Pamela! I still have to prompt you to check out Boom Sticks by Cindy Joseph, only sold on her site. Three sticks of makeup; moisture, color, and sheen. Thats it! The color stick is for any type and hue of skin. This product has changed my life and I do NOT sell or receive any kind of promotional gift for mentioning the Boom Sticks. It’s just a great, all natural product. Loved the post though. As I was throwing make-up out … well you don’t want to even know what I found! ~Kim
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Thanks Kim.
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Good post, I would add that another reason to toss some makeup – so many women forget as they age that what looked good on us a year or two ago just doesn’t now, on our older faces.
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Very true. Thanks so much for reminding of of that.
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On most makeup products it actually lists how long the product is good for. 3 months, 6 months, etc. So that also helps with some reminders even if you roughly estimate when you bought it (if you can’t remember).
I always keep track of when I buy my makeup, and it’s helped me stay on top of discarding all my old and expired stuff!
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You are very wise. Thanks for the heads up. Have a wonderful week.
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I’ve just been through and done a big clear out of my old makeup a couple of weeks ago… I’m glad I did now after reading your ‘tips’ on the allergies etc. ! Great post Pamela and for once I was ahead of the game… definitely not the case in the rest of the house! x
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Way to go Wendy!! Thanks so much.
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JennaMarbles from YouTube refers to this as “goo hoarding” lol. Thanks for the awesome article! Now, onward to clean out my old goo!
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LOL. That is cute. Clean out the old Goo.
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