Expiration Dates

Jan 17, 2012

Amy P.

What are the expiration dates for most foundations and concealers? Opened and unopened?

Jan 17, 2012

Mindy R.

Opened it's usually 9 months to a year.  

Jan 17, 2012

Amy P.

okay thanks!

Jan 18, 2012

Tamara R.

If you can find a batch code on your products, you may be able to find the date (for both) on a cosmetic calcuator.

http://www.beautythesis.net/resources/cosmetic-calculato

Jan 18, 2012

Shelly T.

I'm beginning to think that the whole expiration date thing is a bunch of nonsense conjured up to get us to buy more product. Honestly? If it doesn't smell rancid, hasn't changed colour, and isn't growing, and if you want to, you can still use it, IMO.

Jan 18, 2012

Amy P.

you've got a point Shelly... and thanks for answering people, this question seems to be really hard for me cause one site says this, then one person says this and i try to avoid the sites that are like three years ago.

Jan 18, 2012

Shelley W.

I have to agree with Shelly T. I've been using the same bottle of liquid foundation for two years now and it has yet to separate, smell rancid or change color. Same goes for lipstick/gloss and eyeshadow. The only thing I toss every three months is mascara. 

Jan 18, 2012

Mary Stewart W.

I agree, your sense of smell is a powerful thing! 

Jan 19, 2012

Jasmine P.

I agree with Jordan. Yes if it smells fine it should be okay but at the same time think about the bacteria that builds up in those products over time. You have one face and you don't want to put bacteria-filled product on your face because you want to save money. I think its a balance of the two.

Jan 19, 2012

peppy g.

i went to charm school (finishing school) and they taught us to always put labels with the dates you open your products so you can throw them out after whatever number of months you're supposed to throw them out.

are we supposed to change eyelash curlers/brushes often too? i heard you can just wash them. Beautylish needs to post an article about washing brushes.

i think this doesn't apply to perfume, though. does it? because i have this powdery/woody perfume (Escada Sentiment) that i got as a gift and i didn't like it back then. but now it's oxidized and all the notes i dislike (all the powdery/woody ones) seemed to have evaporated and now it just smells like freshly soaked dry tea leaves, it's really lovely. it's kind of like fine wine that way. :)

but i heard the worst is mascara, then followed by all the wet non-alcoholic things (so i guess it's okay to have a collection of scented nail polish remover). i can't seem to believe that nail polish ever expires, though. does it? i hope not. i love my nail polish collection too much to throw out... :<

Jan 19, 2012

Meghan F.

The only foundations that expire are ones with SPF in them. And technically they still dont expire they merely no longer protect you from the sun. However if you are unsanitary about the way you handle your products than you need to be more concerned with bacterial building and multiplying on your product, Which in return can have very negative effects on your skin, and can cause breakouts. Always use a clean brush when apply foundation, wash them after every use . And avoid using fingers, especially taking it from the bottle putting it on your face and then going back to the bottle. 

Jan 19, 2012

Amy P.

thanks for the answers everyone, so for powder/creme foundations, you agree it's a year?

Jan 20, 2012

peppy g.

i have a funny feeling that packaging matters a whole bunch as well. i'm guessing just because a liquid foundation is wetter than a solid one (what are those, anyway? cream? gel?) doesn't mean it'll necessarily expire (or go bad from germs) faster. because if it comes in a pump (and the pump has a cap) then it probably gets less oxygen exposure whereas a solid one in a pot/plate would get exposed to oxygen AND airborne whatevers (euw, i need to clean my room) and brushes rarely washed, spatulas, fingers... meh. :|

so the fastest would be: pots/pans, followed by tubes and bottles, then pumps, and last: pumps with caps. right? i have a good feeling about pumps, though. because i own BB cream: http://www.beautylish.com/t/vuqrq/bb-creams and that stuff "oxidizes" to match your skin tone, right? so before you pump it out, it was never exposed to air? i guess with BB cream it's easier to tell. like if it's still that alien gray color, then it's good.

also, i don't think spraying the actual make-up (not just the brushes) with alcohol is such a good idea. wouldn't that dry it out? especially items like lipstick.

PS: never mind about what i said about Beautylish needing to post articles about washing brushes. they already have. my bad. *blush*