Makeup Expiration

"The biggest risks of using expired skincare products include loss of efficacy and irritation from degrading ingredients."

-Dr. Ivy Lee

Does makeup expire?

In one word, YES. The reason being that all of those lovely products can begin to harbour bacteria or degrade over time and cause irritation to our skin and sensitive eye area with continued use.

However, when embarking on the journey of decluttering, expiration dates can often feel like a guessing game, being that other than skincare products, most don’t show an expiration date, leading to a feverish Google search to determine what is still safe to use.

Here’s a little cheat sheet from our research to help you make decisions in the future. Just remember, this is a general rule of thumb; your mileage may vary.

Mascara and liquid liner = 3 months

Concealer, cream blush, foundation, lip gloss, and eye shadow = 1 year

Lipstick = 1-2 years

Pencil liner & powder blush = 2 years

As for the other mysterious personal care items in the bathroom that don’t have expiration dates…

Shampoo/Conditioner + Hair Products: Opened = 1 year, unopened = 2-3 years

Body Lotion = 1-2 years 

Perfume = 3-5 years to a maximum of 10 years

When letting go of products that you never had the chance to use before they expired, don’t beat yourself up! Let it serve as a gentle reminder that we often only need what we are currently using plus a backup when we are close to running out. Otherwise, we can easily spend money on things that we have the best intentions of using, but in all actuality, there aren’t enough days in the year to make that happen before the product has degraded and is ready to be bid adieu.

Creating Space Organizing provides decluttering, home organizing and move management services throughout the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver area.