While working with clients' vanities and organizing my own, I have gone through tons of makeup. Some were opened and partially used, and some were never used. When purging makeup, there are several tips you need to know. Today, I will discuss ways to keep the vanity organized, what to toss right now, makeup shelf life guidelines, and makeup organization tips to keep your morning routine as seamless as possible.
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Why should I discard old makeup?
These are important reasons why you should discard your old makeup.
Makeup like lipstick and mascara can quickly develop bacteria, especially if you have an infection. Even if the condition goes, these items may still have bacteria. When you find an infection, remove the items you used immediately so no guesswork is involved when purging your things later.
Some products linger in our bathroom for a long time - even longer than we think. So be cautious about using makeup that is lying around and has dust on it. You can get acne, rash, eye infections(like pink eye), sties, and skin infections.
Many people I encounter need to be more confident about getting rid of makeup and creams they purchased. Some reasons I've heard were that the makeup or lotion was expensive, someone gave it to them, and they might eventually use it again. If they used it once, and it sits on the shelf never used again, was it a worthwhile purchase? If we reacted to it, is it worth keeping? It probably isn't worth storing it in your most precious area.
Where is unused makeup stored?
These less frequently used items may not be stored in your vanity. They are usually stored elsewhere to make room for the ones you are using currently. Visit this area to discard items guilt-free. Some places you could have kept these items are in the linen closet, under the sink, in a travel bag, and unused drawers in the bathroom. Be vigilant and honest with yourself. Are these items worth keeping in this valuable space? And, if you come across other things that can be discarded, take care of them too.
Makeup Shelf Life Chart Explained
Makeup does expire. Some makeup products have a symbol on the back that tells you the expiration dates. While others may not show it on the bottle itself but on the packaging, whereas others do not have expiration dates at all, there are guidelines for you to determine if any item should be tossed. See our image below.
Makeup items that have active ingredients and preservatives break down the fastest. Look for labeling that says preservative-free and natural and assume they will go first.
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How to determine whether makeup has gone bad?
To determine if makeup has gone bad, do the smell test. Does it smell rancid? Then, examine the makeup. Is the product dried out? Did the color change from the original color? Did the liquid separate? Is it clumpy?
A good rule of thumb is to replace makeup every three months. The list below shows how long each type of makeup should be kept. But some may last longer.
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3-6 Months Shelf Life
Mascara
Eye Cream
Liquid Eyeliner
12-18 Months Shelf Life
Cream Blush
Gel Eyeliner
Lip Liner
Liquid Foundation
Concealer
Moisturizer
Powder Blush
Powder Eye Shadow
Eyebrow pencil (If you do not sharpen it.)
Eyeliner (If you do not sharpen it.)
Powder Foundation
Lip Gloss
18-24 Months Shelf Life
Lipstick
Feel free to print the below image.
How long does unwrapped makeup last?
A reasonable estimate of how long unwrapped makeup lasts is about 2 to 3 years. All preservatives in makeup will break down after a while, so get rid of products that are more than three years old. Always check for an expiration date; it may have expired sooner than three years.
Where to donate unwrapped makeup?
If you have a collection of unwrapped, not expired makeup, below are some places to donate these still-good items.
Beauty Bus - accepts hair care, makeup, skincare, and nail care products.
Project Beauty Share - they accept new or barely used products.
Family-to-Family - they accept a variety of new, unopened, unexpired cosmetics, hair, nail, and skincare products, and personal care items.
Local shelters - Contact local women's and girls' programs to see if they need self-care products.
Makeup Shelf Life Printable
Creating a labeling system for your products is essential to ensure you remember when makeup needs to be tossed. I made a full sheet printable to label each product with the date on it.
Or, you can use a permanent marker and write the date you purchased it on the side of the bottle. Though sometimes, the writing will wash off or fade over time.
To make my labels, I used full sheet Avery White Shipping Labels 8 ½" x 11" sheets. Here is the link to Amazon(affiliate) if you want to buy Avery Shipping Labels for Laser Printers, 8.5 x 11 Inch, White, Box of 100 (5165)
After printing out the labels, cut them down to size and store them in your vanity area. When you buy new makeup, use a label and stick it to the new makeup container surface. Place it under or around the areas that do not open. Write the date you purchased the item. This way, you will remember when you bought the makeup without a shadow of a doubt.
How to Organize My Makeup?
If you organize your makeup, you will find that it will be easier to see the older products you may have stopped using. Organizing your drawers with bins and buying a makeup organizer that is appropriate for your makeup and beauty collection will immensely help keep you organized.
Sort your makeup.
There are a few different ways you can organize your makeup and beauty supplies. You can organize them by items like lipstick, eye shadow, etc... Or, you can organize them by activity, like evening products, summer products, winter makeup, workout products, photoshoot products, etc... Whatever method you use, count up the items in each and determine the size of your container. Take notice of how many tubes you have, how many flat items there are, and how many square or round bottles you have. This will help you decide if an organizing product will work for you.
Find the right size makeup organizer
If you use drawers, buy the correct size for the inside of them. Measure the drawer width and height before going to purchase anything.
If you do not have a drawer, you can buy things like well-built makeup organizers, like the ones I found on Amazon (affiliate) below.
Feel free to visit this post on how I organized my vanity drawer.
Another important tip
Cleaning makeup tools you use frequently is also important since these items are not replaced often. Some tools you may use with your makeup are sponges, brushes, and eyelash curlers. You can use a few drops of shampoo or dish soap and rinse them, remove excess water, and allow them to air dry. Below are some brush and sponge cleaner tools from Amazon (affiliate).
I hope these tips help you get control of your makeup and beauty area and streamline your morning routine. Did these tips help you? Let me know what you think.
Below are some other posts to help you organize your bathroom:
Bathroom Organizing Essentials
DIY Electric Toothbrush Holder
Visit our bathroom organization ideas!
Julie Bestry
From my first day of high school until about a dozen years ago, I wore a full face of makeup whenever I left the house — foundation, blush, eye liner, eye shadow, mascara, face power, and lipstick. Then there were tornados here and no power for several days, so I had no light by which to apply makeup and I skipped it for a week or so. After that, I found it was easier to skip the eye makeup on days when I wasn't "on display" (client days, TV appearances, going-out evenings) and just wear BB cream, blush, and lipstick. I never kept a lot of makeup, but now I find everything fits in one makeup bag, and there are no extras or half-used containers. I'm always amazed when a client has dozens of little pots of shadows or creams that have been used and abandoned, and are now just taking up space (and growing germ colonies). Everyone who wears makeup would benefit from reading this post.
Sabrina Quairoli
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Julie!
Janet Barclay
I stopped wearing eye makeup because I would only use a fraction of a package within the safe time limit. I have other makeup which is definitely past date, but it still seems okay so I haven't been in a rush to replace it. I probably should think about that soon though.
Sabrina Quairoli
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Janet!
Linda Samuels
What a helpful post! When working with clients, I've encountered many who have A LOT of makeup (old and new.) Sharing stats like the ones you showed helps my clients with editing and decision-making. I took a screenshot of your makeup shelf-life chart and will keep it accessible. Thank you for creating it!
Sabrina Quairoli
Wonderful! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Linda.
Diane N Quintana
These are great tips. I have several clients with an abundance of products. I'll be sharing these tips with them.
I also love your labels. What a great idea to have premade labels in a drawer ready to use. Then it may be easier to let the old makeup go since you know exactly when you purchased it.
Sabrina Quairoli
Yes, totally! Thanks for commenting and sharing, Diane.
Seana Turner
True confession, I wear hardly any makeup. A foundation and mascara is about all. I do have a few lip glosses and stains in my purse, but I have such tiny lips that I don't go through them very fast LOL. I mostly use Chapstick or Blistex.
That said, I do work with people who love makeup. For many (e.g., my daughter), makeup is a fun hobby. These people tend to have a LOT of product.
Love the guide on how long to keep various kinds of makeup. I find especially once you have opened it and started using it, you need to make sure it is fresh. After all, you are putting it on your face!
Sabrina Quairoli
So true! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Seana.