Expiry dates for makeup.

[ElizabethpinkMember]

So after watching the tour of Marlena’s studio I’m left believing that something I had once heard is actually a myth.

I was informed that a person should never keep makeup that’s a year or more old because it isn’t as effective, or it becomes hazardous, yadda yadda yadda. And yet, after seeing the drawers of makeup that Marlena has I’m left thinking, “There is no possible way she uses all of that makeup in a year, or replaces al of it every year!”

Therefore my question is simple: does makeup have to be bought anew after it reaches a year or so old, or are there just certain makeups (cream, fluid, etc.) that require replacement? Or is it a matter of knowing what it looks like when it starts going “funky” and needs to be re-purchased?

Thanks much for the answers to come! (^.^)

[shellygrrlMember]

I used to believe makeup had expiry dates as well. Now, I lean toward myth. IMO, you should toss something only when you know it’s gone off. Smell is a tip-off. So is a change in consistency (particularly for liquids or creams).

I have two Max Factor lipsticks that I bought on clearance back around the time it was being pulled out of stores in the US, and they’re still in good condition. I also have a MAC pencil eyeliner that I bought eight years ago that’s still good.

[AroModerator]

I look at it this way. Does milk really need that expiry date? Is it not blatantly obvious when milk is off? If you leave it out in warm weather it’s going to spoil well before that use by date, but if you keep it refrigerated it might in fact still be perfectly fine even after that date. Also, what about if you take half the milk and put it in a jug in the fridge, but then place the other half in the freezer, obviously the jug in the fridge is going to expire well before the milk in the freezer.

I believe cosmetics are the same. While not necessarily as blatantly obvious as milk, you can tell that something’s not right with your makeup if you pay attention to changes in the product. If you leave makeup in unsuitable conditions it can spoil far quicker than it should, but if you care for it properly it may last longer than the expiry date. And also, how you use the product can make a difference in how long it lasts.

[ElizabethpinkMember]

Thanks much, ladies! (^.^) I knew I could count on my fellow MUGs for enlightenment, and I’m not disappointed. (^.^) Now I don’t have to worry about spending a small fortune (I’m one of those followers of “you get what you pay for” and therefore refuse to buy cheap crap) every time I turn around. Thanks again! m(^.^)m

[fabulousmoolahMember]

I still have a covergirl eyeshadow that my older sister gave me for play makeup in 1979. It’s hardened and I haven’t worn it since probably 1994 but I’m keeping it. I have a lot of “old” makeup butI don’t think anything powdery could ever spoil unless it gets moist. I have a lot of old lipsticks that are still good. Very few have ever gone “off” and you can tell when they do.

[fortheartofitMember]

What Aro and Shelly said, for me I change my mascara a lot and I do sanitize my eyeliners and my sharpeners, and wash and disinfect my brushes as much as possible. I believe if you do that you can stretch the longevity of your products [i.e eye shadows, foundations, etc]. best of luck

[Anonymous]

I used to think it was not so important but since I got eczema on my eyelids because old makeup and bad quality makeup I changed my mind.
I try don’t buy too much makeup, only what I really use!!
Expery dates do not tell you that something will be good or bad in that date, but it gives you a base for you to be alert: to check if everything still good.
If you know how to keep them, they can take longer, of course.

[GwinmoMember]

Eczema is a genetic condition. Your old makeup did not cause the eczema but was most likely triggered by the makeup due to the quality of the product or an ingredient…

[Anonymous]

Eczema or Dermatitis: A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typically vesicles (tiny blister-like raised areas) in the first stage followed by erythema (reddening), edema (swelling), papules (bumps), and crusting of the skin followed, finally, by lichenification (thickening) and scaling of the skin. Eczema characteristically causes itching and burning of the skin.
Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, is a very common skin problem. It may start in infancy, later in childhood, or in adulthood. Once it gets underway, it tends not to go quickly away.
There are numerous types of eczema, including:

• Atopic dermatitis — a chronic skin disease characterized by itchy, inflamed skin
• Contact eczema — a localized reaction that includes redness, itching, and burning where the skin has come into contact with an allergen (an allergy-causing substance) or with an irritant such as an acid, a cleaning agent, or other chemical
• Allergic contact eczema — a red, itchy, weepy reaction where the skin has come into contact with a substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign, such as poison ivy or certain preservatives in creams and lotions
• Seborrheic eczema — a form of skin inflammation of unknown cause that presents as yellowish, oily, scaly patches of skin on the scalp, face, and occasionally other parts of the body
• Nummular eczema — coin-shaped patches of irritated skin—most commonly on the arms, back, buttocks, and lower legs—that may be crusted, scaling, and extremely itchy
• Neurodermatitis — scaly patches of skin on the head, lower legs, wrists, or forearms caused by a localized itch (such as an insect bite) that becomes intensely irritated when scratched
• Stasis dermatitis — a skin irritation on the lower legs, generally related to circulatory problems
• Dyshidrotic eczema — irritation of the skin on the palms of hands and soles of the feet characterized by clear, deep blisters that itch and burn.

Eczema Causes and Symptoms

There is no single cause of eczema. It probably has a mixture of inherited and environmental causes that act together at different times.
One of the predominant theories is that someone with eczema has a short-circuited immune response where skin reacts abnormally when a substance comes in contact with it. In severe cases of eczema, the substance can be as benign as water. For others the trigger can be anything from clothing, detergents, soaps, grass, food products, allergens (including dust mites) to a lack of humidity, or a combination of elements. Even more frustrating is that the reaction can be intermittent with no real rhyme or reason for why or when. There also appears to be a hereditary component to eczema. For example, children whose parents suffer from eczema run an 80% chance of developing it themselves. Further, in both children and adults, stressful situations tend to trigger, prolong, or worsen eczema flare-ups.

Regardless of the source, eczematous skin reacts to a substance or substances or environmental conditions by spinning out of control and generating mild to severe inflammation, which produces itching and scratching.

Is Eczema A Genetic Disease?
In some people, yes it is. Scientists have discovered very recently (in 2006) that half the people who have eczema that can’t be tied down to any known cause have a genetic change in one of their genes. They have an altered filaggrin gene, which stops them making a fully functional copy of the filaggrin protein.

This protein forms into long filaments or threads in the outermost layers of the skin. It cross links with keratin filaments to enable the skin to be a strong barrier that can keep out irritants and microorganisms that are all around us in the environment. When the filaggrin gene is mutated, this protein doesn’t form properly and it doesn’t do its job. The result is skin that is prone to damage and infection ~ and which responds by becoming red and flaky. These are the typical signs of eczema.

About 1 in 20 adults and 1 in 10 children today have eczema. Identifying this gene could lead to new treatments for this condition that can range from being annoying to seriously affecting quality of life.

Make-up and Eczema

Is your mascara clumpy? Your liquid foundation thickening? Can’t remember what year you bought your half-used lipstick? Dermatologists say your old makeup may be causing you blemishes or even worse it could lead to a dangerous infection.
The skin is the body’s largest organ. It requires the ability to breathe and respire (undergo respiration). Our skin also absorbs over 80 percent of what it comes in contact with. Over time, preservatives and toxic chemicals in makeup cause skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema, rashes, acne, wrinkles and discoloration. You are definitely “beating your face” by caking on a daily layer of primer, foundation, rouge, bronzer, shadow, mascara, lip liner, lip gloss/lip stick and eye liner.

Expired makeup can have the chemical changed by natural conditions, bacterial and fungus infections. This chemicals in touch with skin can cause allergic reaction.
There are two allergic reactions that might occur following exposure to cosmetics: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis, also called contact eczema and allergic contact eczema.

• Irritant contact dermatitis/ contact eczema: This is more common than allergic contact dermatitis and can occur in anyone. It develops when an irritating or harsh substance actually damages the skin. Irritant contact dermatitis usually begins as patches of itchy, scaly skin or a red rash, but can develop into blisters that ooze, especially if the skin is further irritated from scratching. It generally occurs at the site of contact with the irritating substance. Areas where the outermost layer of skin is thin, such as the eyelids, or where the skin is dry and cracked are more susceptible to irritant contact dermatitis.

• Allergic contact dermatitis/ allergic contact eczema: This occurs in people who are allergic to a specific ingredient or ingredients in a product. Symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, and hive-like breakouts. In some cases, the skin becomes red and raw. The face, lips, eyes, ears, and neck are the most common sites for cosmetic allergies, although reactions may appear anywhere on the body.

[Anonymous]

Since there’s no case of dermatitis in my family and both of my doctors assure that what is causing me contact eczema is a combination of old makeup’s chemical and missing vitamin, I decided to share how important it’s to keep open eyes in what you do use on your face, because no one has a crystal ball to know if is or not in conditions of some allergic reaction.

As you can read up, eczema is not necessary a genetic condition.

I’m not telling that makeup will cause eczema to everyone, but this reaction to old and unsure makeup made me change my mind and check what looks good or bad is incredible important and if you are not sure about the conditions of your makeup just buy a new one and avoid problems!

[r4chel77Member]

I agree with the tips here that you can generally tell when your makeup isn’t good anymore. Eyeshadow lasts forever and I have a pretty big stash of it; I’m a palette junkie. I’ve had some for a year and the texture/consistency has not changed. However, I’m sure in 5, some of them in cheaper/not tightly sealed packaging will be harder/dried out/more susceptible to bacterial growth. For example, stila palettes and the naked do close well but don’t seal and click shut like the naked 2, which would probably last longer and get less germ-y.
I will only keep mascara a month or so. I notice immediately when it starts getting flaky. Some people probably keep theirs up to a season or so. I started buying mascara sets because they have mini ones that only contain a small amount and don’t dry out before they’re used up. I will do my best not to ‘pump’ or loosely close the larger mascaras because they will have more longevity that way and I can get by on a few months with the same one. Also, while changing every 1-4 months might seem costly, you can reuse the same brush over and over and screw it onto a new bottle. I love the Urban Decay supercurl and once I run out (I have 1 unopened mini one still) I will use a drugstore mascara. The formula in drugstore mascaras is just about if not equally good and some, like those by covergirl, have a cap plus a brush with cap, so you can throw out the brush and just dip the UD one in. Just remember to clean the brush every month or so at the least.
I typically have a rule for myself that I can only own two foundations at a time so I never have a problem with too many lying around and getting old and contaminated. Bronzers and highlighters will stay clean as long as your brushes are (your face should be clean when you apply your makeup).
My most important tip is to not share makeup. Sometimes sephora gives samples of mascara or eyeliner with purchase, or sometimes a great palette will come with a mini one that I’m not too big a fan of. I will keep these around for whenever I do friends’ makeup and they want to borrow it.

[Author]

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