How Product Expiration Concious Are You ?

I have to admit that for quite a while I would hang onto products because I want to get my 'moneys worth' but is our money's worth - worth the risk that we could impose on our skin if we don't get rid of the product after it's first been opened?

My grandmother is from the days where they didn't have expiration dates on products so when she sees me throwing things out left right & centre she'll be telling me ' Don't throw that away, you've got plenty left ' & I'll explain about the product expiration and she'll kiss her teeth and in her Jamaican accent continue to tell me ' Stop with that rubbish ' lol.

Of course products all have a general guidelines into why we should throw them away but  we must trust our judgement. Any change in consistency, colour and smell are all reasons that your product should head for the bin.

Yet I can imagine a good deal of us our product junkies and remembering when we've opened something in our vast collection of goodies could be complicated. If we use a product on a regular basis we're bound to go through it quickly but what happens to those products we have used once and didn't quite click with and are hmmming & ahhhing over.

You know what I say -give it to someone who will use it.

Identifying Product Expiration :

First and foremost you will notice on most products that they feature a symbol/logo like the one to the left. The numbers & letter represent the number of months that you should use this product up by. They will vary in numbers such as 6, 12 & 24.

Yet don't wait until the expiration month is up if you start to notice your products going funny don't hesitate e.g. foundation and nail polish that has started to separate - throw it out.



Rough Product Lifeline Guide :
These months can vary depending on where you search online & companies so this isn't an EXACT guideline it's a rough estimate from a couple I have personally found online.

Foundation: 3-6 months
Concealer: Wand applicator concealers should be tossed within 6 months since they’re likely to grow bacteria. Stick, twist-up tubes, or compact concealers can last up to 12 months, especially if you use a makeup brush to apply the product.
Pressed powder cosmetics:  Facial powder, blush and eyeshadow should be thrown out after one year. If you get an eye infection, however, you’ll have to toss out any eyeshadow you’ve used, to avoid re-infecting yourself.
Lip gloss and lipstick: 1year.
Mascara: You should always replace mascara after 3 months. And toss it immediately if it becomes dry, or you develop an eye infection. Remember: Never, ever share mascara!
Eye and lip pencils: If you sharpen them every few days, makeup pencils can last a year or longer. It’s time to trash them when they become dry, crumbly, and hard to apply.
All-natural cosmetics: Because these products do not contain preservatives, they should be used or discarded within 6 months.

Oil-free foundation: 1 year
Cream or compact foundation: 18 months
Concealer: 12-18 months
Powder: 2 years
Blush and bronzer: 2 years
Cream blush: 12-18 months
Powder eyeshadow: 2 years
Cream eyeshadow: 12-18 months
Eyeliner: 2 years
Liquid eyeliner: 3-6 months
Mascara: 3 months
Lipstick: 2 years
Lip liner: 2 years
Lip gloss: 18-24 months
Nail color: 12 - 24 months
Fragrance: 2-5 years

 - guides / tips from The Budget Fashionista & MakeupandBeautyBlog

I bought these last April - I've had these for 1 year and a month - look at the change of consistency. 

Now in all honesty I'm not the MOST expiration conscious but I am quite conscious now a lot more than I was two years ago. I'm a woman who has multiple mascaras, eye-liners & so forth the other day I found a make up bag under my bed that had old brushes and odd pieces of make up from 2007!!! Safe to say they were binned lol.

Bacteria build up isn't worth getting your moneys worth - just be careful .....

not my eye BTW !!

How often do you check your beauty products for their expiration ?
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