Shecky’s

Feel accomplished that you’ve managed to use your eyeliner until it was a mere stub? Never know when to rid yourself of the makeup you’ve accumulated (and accumulated and accumulated…) over the years? Megan O’Brien of Meg’s Makeup has the answer(s)! Check out what Meg has to say about throwing out makeup, and leave your very own makeup question in our comment box. She just might answer yours next!

Nadia’s question: I wanted to know how long you can keep your makeup and lip gloss before they start to go bad.

Hi Nadia! Let’s face it. We’ve become so indoctrinated by the beauty industry hype that it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction. So, I’ve asked Lindsay and Jill, seasoned beauty industry veterans and owners of BeautyTicket.com to help me navigate the endless sea of information.

So, what is the average shelf life of cosmetics?

The shelf life of unopened, properly stored cosmetics is anywhere from two to five years, depending on the product. (High-end products formulated with premium ingredients tend to last longer than drugstore brands, making them more of a bargain in the long run.)

Because beauty products generally have such a long shelf life, there is currently no U.S. law that requires cosmetic manufacturers to print expiration dates on the labels of cosmetic products. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) [1] only reports that “voluntary shelf-life guidelines developed by the cosmetic industry vary, depending on the product and its intended use.” In Europe, the Cosmetics Directive does require a “use by” date, but only on products that have a shelf life of less than two-and-a-half years.

So, if a brand is discontinuing my favorite mascara or lipstick, it’s okay to buy a few and hold on to them?

Sure. It makes sense that beauty companies would prefer that you toss out products every three to six months. (After all, that’s how they sell new collections. Can you blame them?) But it should really be choice, not fear of impending doom, that drives each of us to spend more money on a new lipstick or eyeshadow. That being said, keep them sealed and store them properly to ensure that they last, otherwise, you’re just wasting your money.

So, should I be worried about using a product I bought from last season?

According to Dr. Patrick Bowler, the founder of The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, there isn’t really an issue. “All products have a length of time during which they are most effective,” says Dr. Bowler, a leading dermatologist who practices in London and is the founder of The British Association of Cosmetic Doctors. “Most products are packed with preservatives—in some cases as many as five or six—to ensure that they don’t allow bacteria to breed easily,” says Dr. Bowler.

So, why all the hype surrounding product safety and shelf life?

Good question. Serious injury from makeup is a “pretty rare event,” says John E. Bailey, Ph.D., director of FDA’s Office of Colors and Cosmetics. “We don’t see it happen that often. Preservatives have time—usually a whole day—to kill the bacteria that is inevitably introduced after each use,” says Bailey. Dr. Bowler adds that “in most cases, once a product is past its use-by date, you’ll simply end up with something that looks and smells ‘off,’ is unpleasant to use and/or is no longer effective.” Of course, bacteria can become an issue when people share makeup, improperly store products, or forego cleaning brushes and applicators. So, don’t be gross about your beauty products or you could be asking for trouble.

If injury from outdated cosmetics isn’t the issue, what is being reported to the FDA?

FDA reports are almost always attributed to ingredient allergies, not overall safety or shelf life. There are over 30,000 reported cases of cosmetic-related allergies yearly. This is why all U.S. cosmetic manufacturers have been required to list their product’s ingredients on the package since 1977.

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-Megan O’Brien of MegsMakeup.com

Megan O’Brien runs Megsmakeup.com. Meg is a beauty expert and makeup artist who frequently guest stars on national television. Megsmakeup.com is her baby, where she believes, “Always remember, true beauty comes from within…from within bottles, jars, compacts and tubes!”