Does makeup expire? We clear up your doubts

Nothing escapes the passing of time, not even cosmetics. Foundation, blusher, lipstick, mascara... everything has its best before date. All of them have different useful lives though, as is the case with any other products, which are affected by how we store and use them.

Cosmetics do not have an expiry date as such, but rather a period after opening. When opening them for the first time, the product comes into contact with the environment and that is when certain ingredients start to oxidise. 
To find out how long you can use each cosmetic product after opening it, you will have to look on the packaging. Next to a symbol depicting a container, there will be a number and an “M”. The figure states the product's months (M) of life after opening. If we do not observe the recommended periods of use, we can risk suffering adverse effects such as conjunctivitis, herpes or acne, among other skin reactions.

Duration according to cosmetic product

• Liquid foundation and correctors: usually expire after 12 months. Since they are liquid products, there is a higher risk of bacteria and fungus. If their appearance changes: the colour changes or there is a layer of oil, it is best to dispose of it.
• Powder foundation, bronzers and blushers: up to 24 or 36 months.
• Lipstick: up to 2 years. They tend to dry out with time and their colour fades, so you will probably have to dispose of them after this period. Remember that in order to avoid mouth infections, sharing these products is not recommended.
• Eyeshadow: up to 36 months. Despite this being a long-lasting product, it is always best to check it as it is something that comes into contact with your eyes.
• Eyeliners: up to 12 months. They have a long life but keep an eye on them and check for any changes to their appearance to make sure they work properly. Remember to make sure they are properly closed after using them.
• Mascara: between 3 and 6 months. Mascara is particularly attractive for bacteria because of its dark colour and moisture. Check the useful life of these products because they come into direct contact with your eyes.

What factors affect the effectiveness of makeup products?

• Oil. Using makeup implements such as brushes and sponges to avoid oil and dirt being transferred from your fingers to your face is recommended when applying makeup products.
• Sun and moisture. Store your makeup in a cool, dry place. Sun and moisture, which is very common in bathrooms, can damage the formula of your favourite cosmetic products.
• Air. Oxygen oxidises them. Always close makeup products properly, particularly liquid ones.

The main recommendation to make sure your makeup keeps as long as possible is hygiene. This means the product and the container, tube, etc., and the implements you use to apply it. How often you clean each implement will mostly depend on what it is made of. We tell you all about this in our post “How to clean each type of makeup brush” . If you usually use sponges or beauty blenders to apply your liquid foundation, in addition to brushes, you will be interested in knowing what they are made of and how to use and maintain them in this post: “How to clean makeup sponges”