• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Makeup

Are You Keeping Your Beauty Products Too Long?

You may be holding on to your makeup for too long. Find out which products to keep and toss, here!  

By Virginia Lowman · July 5, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Skin Care

To maintain clear skin, do not keep skin care products for longer than one year. Toss any products that you apply with your fingers after 8 months, as these products tend to experience frequent exposure to bacteria.

Image Source/Still Factory
02
Makeup Brushes

Quality brushes can cost you a pretty penny, but if you make the investment they’ll make it worth your while. Many high-quality brushes come with warranty and if cared for properly, they’ll last you upward of five years. Be sure to clean your brushes regualrly to avoid exposing your skin and makeup to bacteria. Keep your brushes fresh by cleaning them once a week.

cclickclick
03
Eye Shadow

Shadows have a shelf-life of 6-8 months; less if you apply the products with your fingers. If you don’t wear shadow frequently, then you may be able to keep them for up to a year, but don’t risk an eye infection to wear a particular shadow “just one more time.”

Studio 504
04
Foundation

Depending on the make of your foundation, some foundations keep longer than others. Foundations stored in an air-tight bottle can be kept anywhere from 1-2 years, while exposed foundations should be kept no longer than one year because of exposure to bacteria from makeup brushes, pads and sponges.

Studio 504
05
Loose Powder

Loose powder can be kept for up to two years. However, if the powder begins to carry a faint smell, you should toss it ASAP to avoid skin irritation.

Plainview
06
Blush

Like loose powder, blush has a shelf life of about 1-2 years. But, if you notice a change in color or texture, toss it and save yourself the heartache of a cosmetic breakout.

Studio 504
07
Eye Liner

Makeup products like liquid liners and eye pencils have a shorter shelf life because they are constantly being exposed to bacteria.  Each time you pull the wand out of your liquid eyeliner tube you are bringing bacteria into the product, so to be on the safe side, get rid of these products every 3-4 months. Pencil liners have a longer shelf life–about 1-2 years–if you sharpen them regularly.

David Lewis Taylor
08
Mascara

Because eyes are very sensitive to bacteria, beauty products like mascara have the shortest shelf life and should be changed every 2-3 months. To ensure that your product doesn’t dry out within that timeframe, avoid muli-dipping your wand in the mascara while in the tube.

WEKWEK
09
Lipstick

Extend the shelf life your your lipstick and avoid contaminatination by applying color with a brush. Store them in a cool place and you can keep them for up to a year. 

Adrianna Williams
10
Lip Gloss

Your lipgloss tube is a breeding ground for bacteria especially because it’s kept in a warm place, so be sure to toss the gloss after 6 months!

11
Nail Polish

Suprisingly, your nail polish is not evergreen. If your polish begins to smell funny and change in texture or color, then it’s time to get rid of it. Otherwise, you can keep your polish for up to 2 years.

Jesus Ayala

Read More

Entertainment
Lil Kim Shares The One Thing She Wants Viewers To Take Away ...
Travel
Airbnb Cancels All DC Reservations Ahead Of Inauguration Week
Oprah Winfrey Documentary Coming To Apple TV+
Videos
Who is Lorna Simpson
Beauty
Skincare Products For All Your Problem Areas
FOLLOW US
Privacy Policy
Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now