Beauty Experts: 5 Signs Your Makeup Has Expired
We are all guilty of using products that have expired. And when it comes to makeup it is especially easy to do. And you may think that since you don’t use this product often, it will stay as good as new. However, the truth is far from that. Once opened a product is bound to expire (or unopened in some cases). And some products even expire before their said expiration date. That’s why it’s important to keep track of your makeup. Here are some signs that your makeup has expired.
Some products even expire before their said expiration date
Signs Your Makeup Has Expired
Makeup can be a ton of fun, however, having to remove it or throw it away isn’t as much fun. But it is the natural step. Everything has an expiration date – food, electronics, drinks, and even makeup. So, what are some signs your makeup has expired?
Everything has an expiration date – food, electronics, drinks, and even makeup
#Past Expiration Date
One of the easiest ways to check if your makeup (or skincare product as well) is expired is to see if you’ve passed the recommended timeline stamp on the product. You know the little jar symbol with a number and a letter inside it. The letter is usually an M, which stands for months. This symbol is the PAO symbol or period-after-opening symbol. This indicated roughly how long you can use the item safely once it’s been opened. It’s basically the “best by” of food products but for makeup and skincare. However, sometimes too hard to remember when you have opened it, that’s when you check the following signs. It’s a good idea to have a list with dates when you have opened certain products or write the date you opened it on the product itself.
This symbol is the PAO symbol or period-after-opening symbol
#Weird Consistency
If you can’t remember when you opened up a product, a good sign to tell if it is expired is by its consistency. If something seems off, then it’s more than likely the product has gone bad. Does it seem dry or watered down? Or maybe it’s sticky and chalky? All of these are signs that it is time to throw it away. Mascaras tend to dry out, as well as liquid eyeliners. Foundations, on the other hand, tend to become thicker and create a clumpy consistency. Yuck!
A good sign to tell if a product has expired is by its consistency
#Discoloration
Even the smallest change in color could mean that it’s time to toss the product out. While this may seem like an obvious one, as you’ll most certainly notice if your foundation is a shade darker than it should be, it can be harder to spot in products such as primer. This also goes for products that you just use a small amount of and immediately rub onto your face. Take some time to observe whatever you are about to apply. You may start to notice things you usually don’t. For example, your white cream has a yellow hue. If anything seems off, then toss it.
Even the smallest change in color could mean that it’s time to toss the product out
#Funky Smell
A good indicator that a product has expired is its smell. While it’s normal for fragrant products to lose some of their smell over time, some other signs are not normal. This includes if a scentless product starts to smell, or a scented product has a terrible smell. Then you definitely know it’s time to get rid of it.
A good indicator that a product has expired is its smell
#Stored Improperly
While this may not be an obvious sign, it’s easy to understand how a product is probably expired if it has been stored improperly. If you have been storing your products improperly then this most likely means that they have a shorter shelf life, consequently making them expire much faster than they would have. Make sure to store your makeup away from the sun and keep them closed tight. Some products also benefit from staying in the fridge, such as retinol or vitamin C. Even nail polish can be stored in the fridge! It’s also a good idea to keep makeup away from the bathroom vanity. The humid environment only creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
Make sure to store your makeup away from the sun
What Happens If Makeup Is Expired?
Well other than all the signs we mentioned above, makeup can also start to store all kinds of yucky bacteria. Consequently, this leads to blackheads, acne, and other skin issues. Products such as mascara or eyeliner can also cause eye irritation.
Makeup can also start to store all kinds of yucky bacteria
This was how to find out if your makeup has expired. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can discard any old makeup to avoid any breakouts and other skin problems. It’s important to keep track of such products.
Now you can discard any old makeup to avoid any breakouts
Sources:
- Mental Floss ©
- Healthline ©
- Marie Claire ©
- Bustle ©
- Insider ©
- Allure ©
