The beauty product expiration dates you need to know

i used to wear makeup every day and accumulated a massive collection. the last 2.5 years i have only worn makeup max 2 times a month! If i followed this i would have to toss my entire collection. i often go through things and check their smell and consistency and what i have now seems fine.

I'm so guilty of this but I also keep most of my makeup in the refrigerator so that helps slow down the expiration date a little.

I guarantee you I am the most guilty party here with the oldest product. It is amongst the first makeup products I ever had and it was given to me by my cousin many years ago when I was a child. A product older than the majority of Beautyheaveners. I have a Helena Rubenstein Dazzlers powdered eyeshadow in the shade Water Lily, and I think it was made in the 1970's. I may well be the only person on earth that now owns it. It is a metallic green shade.

I must admit I am so guilty of this

Oh boy I've got products I've been using for 5+ years LOL. I do throw things out if they start to smell bad or are changing colour/becoming gluggy though!

I'm really guilty of holding on too long to beauty products. The more expensive they were the harder to throw out.

I'm really strict with this after I had an eye infection. It helps not having too many things open at once.

Great tips, BH. I mostly never finish my cosmetics and have yo throw them max in a year.

My oldest product is a chanel lipstick I bought duty-free on my first big trip overseas, it's 25 years old, I've never used it. But I can't bring myself to throw it out.

I have and use some old lipsticks. They are still silky smooth to apply and I simply cant let them go as the shades are just awesome and sadly this brand doesnt exist anymore. I dread to think exactly how old they are.

I don't have sensitive skin, so I often use things until they run out, unless they look or smell off. These rules aren't hard & fast: natural products tend to go off quicker than products loaded with preservatives. I look at the open jar symbol on the packaging to know how long the product should last once opened.

What about for products that you have not opened yet - I wonder what the expiry is for that

I try to use up mu skincare quickly but I have never used up a makeup product, which is such a waste

Need to declutter my cosmetics.

I need to go through everything and throw out the products I haven't used in awhile

I've got some antiques - something special my hubby bought for me before we got married and I don't want to part from it - something from Elizabeth Arden. So cute that he bought it for me. I won't use it now though because I wouldn't trust it!

I just used a lipstick today and I think it was not quite right, didn't apply or smell the way it use to, I am going to have to ditch it.

I am sure I’ve used a lot of products that have been technically expired. I go by the look and smell of a product, and if it’s not causing me any issues or irritation, I keep on using it. Sunscreen is the only product I’m mindful of the use by date of, and that’s usually longer than the 6 months stated here.

I'm guilty of using eyeshadow thats many years old lol

I’m guilty of holding onto blush and eyeshadow palettes. But if they smell off, I’ll get rid of them. I won’t use skin care past it’s use by date, but it usually gets used up anyway. I’m very particular about mascaras. I toss them after 6 months maximum, or if they smell off.

good tips,thank you!!

Makeup, I throw away anything I do not use that year. So now have just a few items that fit a small toiletry bag. Skincare all gets used. Do not have much now. Haircare, I burn trough like mad. Nothing gets expired.