A Cosmetic Shelf Life: It's Been There How Long?!

As you can guess, when foundations dry out or your perfume does NOT smell the way it used to, you typically throw it out. Sometimes, cosmetics need to be tossed before they show signs of over-usage, or before harmful bacteria make your cosmetic drawer their home.

Since cosmetics are made mostly with chemical compounds, it would make sense that once they are exposed to oxygen, humidity, heat or bacteria, it can alter how they look on you or how they smell. While some items can simply be shaken up and continually used, other products just need to be tossed. Here are some clues that it's time to get some new makeup:

If your cream eye shadows or lipsticks start to form beads on them after application, get rid of it. The heat has caused the oil to rise to the surface, making it a bad idea to keep it. There are always exceptions to the rule, so if it's relatively new or goes on smoothly, go ahead and keep it if you want. However, if it's older and exposed to drastic temperatures, throw it away before the bacteria can spread. A great way to keep makeup fresh is to keep it out of the bathroom, where humid temperatures and high amounts of bacteria ruin makeup very quickly.

If you notice that your nail polish, lotions or creams have settled to the bottom and oil has risen to the top, it's because they have sat for too long unused. Since polish has little beads in the bottle for mixing, you can try to see if it can be saved. Scrubs can also be used after shaking up, but usually creams and foundations just need to be tossed. Using items that have been chemically altered by the environment can lead to irritation or loss of good use.

If your lotion or cream starts to smell funny, throw it out. The bad odor indicates that the product has "gone bad" and can lead to bacterial growth like mold or yeast. Perfumes are different in that due to the high alcohol content, they won't grow bacteria, but once the scent is gone, you can't get it back. There's no point in keeping these items, so you might as well toss them and replace them with new products. Creams and perfumes maintain their nice smell by keeping them out of excessive heat and bright light or sun.

If your cosmetics have turned a different color, get rid of them. Some ingredients react to different things, like heat or sunlight. Discoloration may indicate the product has stopped working, while perfumes turn dark as a result of oxidation. Bottom line; its much easier to go buy a new product that you know will work, than use an old product that may cause bacterial infections!

Some people like to buy large quantities of their favorite products. The sad part is, by the time they actually come around to using them, they may be expired, altered or just plain old. Cosmetics actually have a shelf life that keeps items fresh and clean for optimal use:

• Anti-Aging Creams: 3 Months-1 Year
• Shampoo/Conditioner: 3 Years
• Lotion: 2-3 Years
• Mascara/Eyeliner: 3-4 Months
• Foundation: 2 Years
• Perfume: 2 Years

In order to keep bacteria away from your skin, make sure you know when to throw your cosmetics away. Also, keep brushes clean from makeup buildup and oils from the skin. Sometimes using old products can do more harm than good, so it's just better to get rid of it!