Eyeshadow
Shadow is tricky because it is being used on an open part of the body -- the eye. If it is powder and you are using clean brushes to apply, then you are safe to hold on to them for up to a year. To keep brushes clean, wash about every week with a mild shampoo or cleanser or you can buy a professional blush cleaner. If you're using your finger to apply a cream eyeshadow, toss it after six months.
Bath oils and shower gels
These are usually formulated with "natural oils and other natural ingredients [which] are more prone to oxidation and hydrolysis, thereby shortening the shelf life of the product," says hair and scalp expert Philip B.
Sunscreen
The "active ingredients will remain effective for 12 months, if kept in a cool place," says Jennifer Taylor, creator of Smart Girls Who Surf. But, she warns "when you leave your tube of sunscreen on your towel, or in your car, it heats up [and] not only does it change the viscosity of the formula, but it affects the active ingredients (especially [the] chemicals) and may cause them to be less effective in preventing sun damage." Telltale signs that your SPF has expired: it's turned from white to yellow, it smells "medicine-like," or starts to come out runny, says Taylor.
Face makeup
Foundation and blush can typically last up to 12 months as long as you are using clean brushes and sponges to apply them, says Cromwell. Keep your fingers out of your makeup to keep bacteria at bay.
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Beauty products to toss at six months to a year
Lipstick and lip gloss
These vary in the amount of time you should hold on to them. Since they're in such close proximity to your mouth, which is full of germs, you want to keep a close eye on your favorite colors. If they start to smell of chemicals or have a "bad breath" scent, then it's time to chuck them, says Cromwell.
Skin care
Anti-aging creams and serums, acne treatments and moisturizers are formulated to be the most effective for 12 months. After this allotted time, the efficacy levels start to diminish and the product starts to slowly stop working, says Cromwell.
Nail Polish
It "can last up to 12 months if you refrigerate it. If you keep it out, then it will only last about 6 months," says Hadley.
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Beauty products to toss every three to six months
Mascara
This should be replaced quite often as its known for being a "breeding ground for bacteria," and bacteria in your eye causes infections, says Cromwell. After about three months of use, it will also start to dry up.
Eyeliners
These are another item to be careful with as they are applied around your eyes, says Cromwell. If it's a pencil, make sure to sharpen it before each use.
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Beauty products to toss before three months
Yes, we realize the following beauty tools don't technically "expire," but since we're on the subject of what to toss when:
Sponges
These are up for debate. If you are using high quality ones, you can wash them after each use and they can last up to three months. If they are drugstore cheapies, you're better off tossing after one application, says Cromwell, as the cheaper the material, the less sturdy the sponge and it will end up falling apart anyway after a couple of washes.
Razors
They should be replaced every six or so shaves. To make a blade last longer, store it in a cool, dry place (AKA not in your shower).
It's easy with food, for the most part, to know when it's better in the bin than on your plate, but with beauty products, which rarely boast a written expiration date, it's a different story.
That handy stamp telling you when it's time to toss an item isn't mandatory on your lipstick or face cream and because of that fact, we often use beauty products that have either lost their effectiveness or contain more bacteria, mold and yeast than we'd like to know about.
And why shouldn't we hold on to that liquid foundation until it's within a centimeter of its life? Or squeeze out that very last drop of moisturizer? We're spending hard earned money on this stuff, right? Right. But the likelihood is that if you have a beauty product that is expired, you probably haven't been using it.
So let's all take a moment to admit that we might all have a tendency to hoard and/or buy things we don't actually need because they're either on-trend or we've convinced ourselves that we do, in (illusory) fact, need them.
Well ladies, that perfume you bought ages ago and haven't spritzed on since the first week you purchased it isn't going to smell quite as lovely as it did at the department store. Sad, but true and don't worry, we're all guilty of holding on to things for a bit too long -- even if we haven't touched it in months.
So to help you figure out when all your beauty products should be chucked, and to share some tips that'll help you keep them in tip-top condition for as long as possible, we went to the beauty authorities. With their expert advice, you can save money and much-needed bathroom cabinet space by knowing what to trash and when.
