It’s spring cleaning season! That wonderful time of year when you cull your wardrobe (if you didn’t wear it this winter, you’re not going to wear it next winter. So. Chuck. It. Out.), clear out your garage and… ditch those beauty products that you’ve had for way too long. Sure you never know when you might need that seriously bright coral lippie or that electric blue eye shadow. But you also don’t know if the next time you use it it’s going to give you a nasty rash because it’s past its expiry date.

Yes, that’s right. Beauty products have expiry dates, just like milk. You know how some products get a weird smell, or your foundation starts to separate? It’s a sign that you should have thrown it out months ago. It’s ok, you didn’t know. But now you do.

Make some time in your schedule, it’s time for a beauty spring clean.

The Beauty Product Shelf Life Guide

Every product type has a different life span. Here’s the general rule of thumb:

3 Months

• Mascara
• Loofah
• Nail file

6 to 9 Months

• Liquid foundation
• Liquid concealer
• Liquid eyeliner
• Eye cream
• Serums
• Acne products
• Cleanser

1 Year

• Cream eyeshadow
• Eyeliner pencils
• Lip gloss
• Moisturiser
• Self tanning products
• Body wash & soap
• Sunscreen

2 Years

• Powder eye shadow
• Powder foundation
• Blush & bronzer
• Lipstick
• Nail polish
• Body scrub
• Body lotions

3 Years

• Shampoo & conditioner
• Hairspray
• Perfume
• Lotion
• Makeup brushes (but only if you clean them every month!)

OUR TIP: To ensure your products see the end of their estimated life span, you also need to keep them in a cool spot (products like perfumes can turn bad if exposed to too much heat) and if you’re dipping your fingers into moisturiser jars, eye shadow palettes and so on, make sure your hands are clean first. Also, put the lid back on everything straight away.

Reading the Label

You don’t actually need us to tell you when to ditch your expired beauty products – your product’s packaging has actually been telling you all along. You know that little icon that looks like a tin with the lid floating above and a number on the inside. There’s your sign.

12 M means throw it out after 12 months of opening. 6 M means your time together is short so take full advantage… and say your ‘see ya laters’ after six months. It’s that easy. The hard part is remembering when you opened it. (Hint: Look for the signs that it’s time to part ways).

Signs it is Time to Toss

If a product’s consistency has changed – toss it. If the colour changes – into the bin it goes. If it has a funky smell – ditch it asap. If your mascara has dried out – say goodbye. If it causes you to break out – get rid of it. If it gives you a rash –go see your doctor immediately. Oh, and toss it.

The Ugly Side Effects

Expired products not only won’t work to their full effectiveness, they can be a breading site for bacteria too. This can cause infections and irritations for your skin, eyes or wherever you’re applying the product. There’s really not much more we need to say on the matter – it’s not worth keeping them around.

We know, it’s hard to throw out your beloved beauty products. But hey, at least this means you get to play with some new ones. Oh, and you won’t get pink eye. That’s pretty cool too.