Cosmetics: Is it still safe to use after opening it for 6 months?

                       

Hubby has been nagging me recently, commenting that I have too much 'rubbish' on my makeup table. I turn around and take a look and realised that I really have too many cosmetics, skin care that had been there for a long time. I only have 1 face, so how could I use up all of them?

'Throw them away if they're too old, I wouldn't want you to suffer from skin infections?', he commented again, looking at me and shaking his head before he walk out of the room. Once again, I turn around and look onto the table and wonder, 'Maybe it's time to check through and throw away anything that's too old.'

I'm sure everyone of you had the same problem with me. We buy and buy and ended up with too many cosmetics. Some of them are unopened, while some are only used once. But how long can we keep them without having to worry about getting infections when using them. What are their shelf life, whether they are opened or not....

Bacteria is all around us. We can't see or feel them but they are there. They'll stick onto the mascara wand when you are applying your mascara and when we put the wand back into the tube, we ended sending the bacteria into the mascara. They are also around when we are applying that green eye shadow, attaching itself to the brush and then onto the shadow itself. So just how long can we keep them after they are open.

Cosmetics' Shelf Life

Mascara: 3 months after opening. Dry up mascara should be thrown away. 

Powdered Shadows/Foundations/Blushes: 1 - 2 years after opening. May be shorter if they are in contact with water as it will bring in bacteria.

Cream Shadows/Blushes: Between 6 - 12 months. Look out of signs such as dryness or weird smell.

Liquid Foundations: 6 - 12 months. Look out for signs such as 'separation' or weird smell.

Eye Liner Pencil/ Lip Pencil - May last up to 2 years if not in contact with water. Always sharpen it before used to free them from bacteria.

Lipsticks, glosses and pencils: 1 - 2 years after opening. Look out for signs or smells.

Storage and handling

Away from sunlight and moisture, such as the bathroom. Best in cool and dry area.

Always cover them back tightly after each used.

Keep hands dry and clean especially if you are using bare hands to do the make up.

Sponges and brushes should be wash frequently and must be fully dry before use.

Hurry and go check out all that 'rubbish' on your desk now....