How Do You Use Up Your Cosmetics Before They Expire?

Mar 20, 2012

Ingrid N.

Everyone here either already has, or is building up to having a significant amount of makeup. I'm a little obsessed with it myself. So with so much product to use, and investing so much money into your collections, not to mention cosmetic companies constantly spewing out amazing new products, how do manage to use your money's worth before it goes bad in just a few short years?

Mar 20, 2012

Lisa S.

If the smell and texture doesn't change, it hasn't gone bad. I ignore the expiration dates.  

Mar 20, 2012

Melissa S.

I ignore the expiration dates too. It isn't really a set time. I have had products last much longer and shorter than they were suppose to. As long as the product smells the same and the texture hasn't changed you should be good. For powder products to keep the bacteria out spray a little alcohol on them to sanitize them. =)

Mar 20, 2012

Emma D.

Yeah I ignore too, especially with powder products or ones that are in pumps.

Mar 20, 2012

N D.

I generally keep mascaras and liquid eyeliners for 3 months or so. Lip glosses and liquid foundations, around a year. Everything else I keep unless it gets funky.

Mascara and eyeliners are really the only things I ever manage to use up before they supposedly go bad.

Mar 20, 2012

Bianca T.

Unless there's a specific date (day, month, year) on my products - as on Lush facemasks - I don't pay attention to the expiration time. It's a guideline that cosmetic companies need to add by law - just like food products. Unless the texture, colour or smell changes, I keep using products for years. But it also depends on your sanitation methods. If you always use fresh, clean brushes, your products should last a lot longer than if you and all your friends dip their fingers in.

Mar 20, 2012

Soma S.

I'll swap makeup with friends or on MUA to try new things, and my bf's little sister loves me for makeup hand-me-downs. Share the love if you can't use it all, and of course, some MAJOR will power to say "no" to gimmicky goodies.  =P

Mar 21, 2012

Elle W.

I'm also guilty of ignoring the suggested expiration dates floating around. Unless there's a specific expiration date on the product, like for LUSH products, and as long as your makeup hasn't changed color or smells funny you should be fine. There's no way I can use up a tube of mascara in 3 months or a tube of lipgloss in 1 year!