Let’s Not Risk an Eye Infection
No one wants to throw away makeup—you were saving that lipstick for something special! But the tube has officially dried out, and you notice there’s a weird smell coming from the package. Don’t take the risk; expired makeup wrecks a picture-perfect complexion, and we’re here to go through some major risks of stretching your luck.
1. Skin Irritation
First and foremost, expired products can wreak havoc on your skin. You might feel a burning sensation, notice there isn’t as much color payoff, or even develop the odd zit (among other things). That liquid foundation isn’t worth it; pitch it after six months. If you really want to get the most out of it, a year is the max.
2. Chance of Breakouts
If you’re lucky, you’ll only experience one or two pimples in an affected area. Other unfortunate souls may succumb to full-blown breakouts. Don’t press your luck with powdered blush or foundations. As soon as it starts to crumble, you up the odds of a bad skin day.
3. Eye Infections
What’s the harm in using expired mascara, right? While we can’t stop you from risking it, we can inform you about the bacterial growth often found in old tubes. Research suggests that you swap out mascara every four to six months to avoid styes and pink eye.
4. Poor Product Consistency
Sure, you might be able to squeeze another use from that lip gloss—but at what cost? Many cosmetics come with prime consistencies, and when you push your luck, you’re just smearing watery ingredients on your face. It’s hardly worth it to keep something that stopped working months ago.
5. Bacterial Growth
Mascara isn’t the only culprit for bacterial growth. The sad fact is that just about every kind of cosmetic can harbor fungus after a while, leaving you to deal with the aftermath. To make matters worse, affected ingredients can also increase your chances of an allergic reaction.
6. Clogged Pores
We spend hundreds of dollars trying to avoid clogged pores! Expired makeup doesn’t do any favors for your skin, and one of its biggest sins is that it causes buildup on your face. Steer clear of anything past its date unless you want to undo all your hard work.
7. Redness
Enflamed skin isn’t off the table with expired products. Unfortunately, redness can occur with anything from powdered foundations to ancient highlighters, leaving an itchy streak in its wake. You could also experience burning.
8. Increased Risk of Future Infection
Even if you don’t see immediate infections, expired ingredients can open the door for future risk. For many makeup-lovers, dipping a toe in the potential pool of problems just isn’t worth it. Stick with healthy products, and you’ll maintain healthy skin.
9. It’s Not as Effective
We know it’s hard to part with that Benefits primer, but expired products are way past their heyday. You might not develop redness or suffer any breakouts, but you won’t get the results you hoped for either. In that case, there’s no point hanging on to it other than principle.
10. Cold Sores
Lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms—on any other day, these products are a godsend. However, once they kick the bucket, the only thing they offer is bacteria. Next thing you know, your lips could go pink for an entirely different reason: the dreaded cold sore.
Hopefully, we’ve scared you away from holding onto the past. With all that yucky stuff out of the way, it’s time we explored a few telltale signs your makeup is past its prime.
1. It’s Past the Expiration Date
There’s nothing more telling than an expiration date. Though some products stretch past the finish line, expiry dates should alert you to the end times. Try not to wait until the final hour; replace your favorite products before you’re stuck with a clumpy, fungus-filled item.
2. Clumpy Consistency
Speaking of clumps, they aren’t something you want to see in makeup. It’s a red flag that signals formula breakdown, meaning a replacement product ASAP. Don’t try to salvage it with water (or heaven forbid, saliva), either—they both lead to more bacteria.
3. Rancid Odors
Mascaras shouldn’t elicit a nose scrunch. Your liquid foundation shouldn’t make you gag. The bottom line? If it smells weird, pitch it. You’ll know a terrible odor when you encounter it, and if it’s a favorite product, you’ll definitely pick up on any changes.
4. Dry Tubes
If only they made translucent packages, especially for mascara. Sadly, we’re left to our own devices with this beloved product. Fear not, there are a few ways to tell if it’s time for the garbage! Unpleasant odors, separation after application, and clumpy lashes can all indicate it’s time for that tube to go.
5. A Change in Color
When oxidation hits, your formula suffers. What that means for your makeup bag is a pouch full of mismatched tones. As soon as you notice wonky shades, it’s time to make the switch. Don’t even think about using it, either.
6. Ingredients Separate
Some liquid products, particularly foundations, have a mix of water, silicone, or oil. When they expire, those ingredients separate, making it virtually impossible for you to score a smooth finish. Powdered products are one thing, but certain foundations come with obvious warning signs.
7. Your Skin Doesn’t React Well
It’s not always easy to tell which products went bad. You know what that means—trying it on and hoping for the best. If your skin develops any sort of irritation or burning, remove that product immediately. Better yet, toss it to the dump.
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8. Visible Mold
We know what you’re thinking: there’s no way mold sneaks onto makeup. Guess again. Mold can take many forms, and it’s not always the fuzzy stuff you find on fruit. Moisture can fester inside old containers, causing anything from white speckles to bad odors, so get rid of anything that looks funky.
9. It Looks Runny
You know your makeup better than anyone, which means you know what it looks like. Did you spot a runny consistency? Does that foundation just drip off your face? Watery textures can signal ruined ingredients.
10. Crumbling
On the other hand, some makeup crumbles before it kicks the bucket. Blush and powdered foundations are the biggest culprits; if those palettes are filled with dust, a replacement is in order. It’s not only the powdered stuff—expired mascara can also flake.
