Keep or Toss? Cosmetics Edition

So you’re ready to declutter your whole home! You have a game plan and plenty of boxes or bags to haul away ALL your unwanted stuff. Clothes, books, and housewares are easy— you already have a local charity picked out to take those to. And besides any emotional or sentimental attachment, it’s not too hard to decide what to get rid of. If it doesn’t fit or you don’t use it anymore, goodbye!

But what about perishable or sensitive items? It’s hard to know whether you need to get rid of that eye shadow at the bottom of your drawer, or those tax returns from 2005. This series will give you some guidelines for what to keep and what to toss.

Today’s focus is cosmetics! Beauty products are SO expensive, so it makes sense that most people like to keep them until they’ve used every last drop. But some items can start to harbor bacteria if they’re kept too long, resulting in sties, acne, or even rashes. Not cute!

You can find the manufacture date and projected shelf life for dozens of brands using the Cosmetic Calculator website. Below are some more general guidelines.

• Mascara/liquid eyeliner: Toss after 4-6 months (especially if you wear contacts!)

• Powder-based products: Toss after 2 years

• Lipstick/lip gloss: Toss after a year

• Nail polish: Generally stays good for 2-3 years. Toss when you start to see separation or other texture changes. Tip: It will last longer if you keep it in the fridge!

  • Please note that nail polish is considered hazardous waste and shouldn’t be thrown in the trash! Visit Earth911 to find out where you can safely dispose your old bottles.

• Perfume: The average shelf life is 3-5 years, but scents with heavier base notes can last up to 10 years. Toss when the smell seems off. If you love the bottle itself, you can keep it for decoration as long as you have a dedicated place to display it. (Don’t let your counter top or vanity table get too cluttered, though!)

• P.S. Makeup brushes and beauty blenders that are used frequently should be cleaned at least once a week. Having fresh, clean products won’t matter if you’re applying them to your skin with dirty tools!

Again, these are general guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Factors like temperature, humidity, and sunlight exposure can extend or shorten the life of your makeup. So if you keep your cosmetics in your bathroom or on your vanity table by a sunny window, you should pay closer attention to these tips. Overall though, use your best judgment—if your product smells weird, looks weird, or feels weird, it’s time to stop using it.