3 Reasons Why You Should Get-Rid Of Your Expired Beauty Products

Get Rid of the Negative Energy aka your expired #Makeup!

Getting rid of things that don’t benefit you emotionally or physically should be a part of your self-care journey. Today’s all about getting rid of the physical things that aren’t helping you which in this case beau. It’s your old, expired makeup.

It’s Crucial to Make a New Start

I have some bad news for you! Most of your pre-pandemic makeup and skincare products should be thrown away. I know it’s not fun to hear, but I think you’ll be more open-minded after learning why it’s so important to get rid of your expired products.

So, in the name of self-care and a clean slate (which, by the way, can be quite liberating), it’s time to do a post-pandemic product purge.

The Unanswered Question

Let’s start with the most important question:

• Yes, you must discard any makeup that has passed its expiration date.
• Yes, even if it was prohibitively expensive.
• Yes, even if you haven’t used it in a long time, it’s time to get rid of it.

Why Should I Replace My Old Beauty Products?

The main reasons for replacing your expired cosmetics is straightforward:

• Reduced efficiency
• Increased number of breakouts
• Infection

Let’s take a look at it in more detail.

Reduced Efficiency

Cosmetics are concerned with performance. You wouldn’t spend money on makeup and skincare if it didn’t work, right? As they dry out and become exposed to moisture, and so on, all cosmetics lose their effectiveness over time. It’s especially important to keep performance in mind if you’re using a performance-based cosmetic. Make sure the ingredients don’t lose their potency.

Increased Number of Breakouts

Dermatologists call it acne cosmetics, but you can call it a makeup-related breakout if you want. Unfortunately, skincare products (foundation, concealer, primer, moisturizer, serum, and so on) are notorious for causing breakouts if they are out of date.

Infection

When you use expired products, you put yourself at risk of infection even from the comfort of your own home. Eyeliner, especially liquid or felt-tip eyeliner, is notorious for harboring bacteria. As products like mascara dry out, they are prone to flaking, and mascara flakes in the eye can cause serious long-term damage. It’s best not to take chances with expiration dates because these products are so close to your eyes.

Expiration dates for the most popular types of cosmetics

Like many things in your home, Beauty items have an expiration date. Unfortunately, not all expiration dates in the beauty industry are clear. Environmental and formulaic factors influence the product’s lifespan, but we’ll get to that later.

The following is a handy list of expiration dates to keep track of after you’ve opened the package.

Most cosmetics expire within the period after opening (commonly referred to as PAO), so if you won’t be using it for a while, you should wait to open it, so it has a longer lifespan:

Keep in mind that the dates listed above do not apply to each product in your makeup bag. Most cosmetics adhere to these generic dates, but some cosmetics, particularly those natural or organic in formulation, have a shorter shelf-life. In some cases, some brands can last longer than listed above.

Always double-check the expiration dates on your products. Keep a running list of when you bought each item and when it expires on your phone to remind yourself to get rid of it after a certain period. Alternatively, you could scribble the expiration date on the product’s bottom. Better yet, use a to-do list app or set a calendar reminder for yourself.

3 Ways to Extend the Life of Your Cosmetics

Don’t be concerned. There are a few things you can do to make (some of) your cosmetics last longer:

1. Do not keep your cosmetics in a humid environment.
   If possible, keep your makeup in a room other than the humid bathroom. Your makeup is ruined by the steam and humidity from your shower, especially powder-based products like eyeshadow and blush. Also susceptible to the effects of moisture and heat are cream-based products. Cream-based blushes and lipsticks (among other cream-based cosmetics) can soften or become moisture trapped, leading to bacterial growth.
2. Use your fingers to avoid touching your products.
   I know it’s tempting to swatch eyeshadow on your wrist with your fingers as all the influencers do, but this leaves oils on your palettes. Even if your fingers are nice & clean, touching the eyeshadow can shorten its life. If your hands are dirty, you’re also introducing potentially dangerous bacteria into your cosmetics. This is especially true for creamy products, such as moisturizers, serums, and droppers. Using a sanitized brush to touch the product can introduce bacteria into the moist environment.
3. If you have an eye infection, don’t use a product.
   You should not wear makeup until the infection has cleared if you have an eye infection. Applying makeup to infected skin not only slows down the healing process but also contaminates your makeup. Consider your eye makeup ruined if you put it on while having conjunctivitis (pink eye), a style, or anything else. Throw it out, particularly if it’s mascara or eyeliner. If you use a tainted product, you’ll keep getting eye infections.

 

Begin the rule of discarding expired cosmetic products from your home.

I know how much makeup and skincare products cost, and it can be difficult to throw away a product that isn’t empty, especially if it was an investment. That’s not an easy task, which is why so many people haven’t gotten rid of their expired products (even when they know they should).

Keep in mind that this is an important part of your self-care routine.

You prioritize yourself and acknowledge that you deserve to use the healthiest products on your skin by getting rid of something that could literally harm your skin or health.

If you are a frequent makeup buyer, you should be aware that you may end up throwing away a lot of products, which could be harmful to the environment so, if you want to be environmentally conscious (which you should), find out which of your products can be recycled by contacting your local recycling center. So, if your product can’t be recycled, perhaps it can be upcycled!

So, rather than experimenting and buying more products than you can realistically use before it expires, take this as a sign that you should focus on buying primarily performance-based products that help you look and feel your best.