Beauty Products And Their Expirations

All good things come to an end, and that includes our favorite beauty products. In order for our products to do their job properly, there’s a timeline that they must be used before they don’t work as well as they should. Just like the foods in our fridge, the products in our beauty arsenal have expiration dates.

2-3 Months

Products like mascara, nail files, and loofahs all last for about 3 months due to their likelihood of accumulating a lot of bacteria as they come into direct contact with the skin.

6-12 Months

Many liquid beauty products last from 6-12 months as they don’t have direct contact with the skin (like a mascara wand would.) As a general rule, the products with less chemicals tend to last a shorter amount of time as they’re not as well preserved- most drug store products should last closer to a year. Products like liquid foundations, concealers, liquid eyeliners, creams, serums, and face cleansers all fall within the 6-12 month expiration range.

12-18 Months

Lip glosses, cream-based products and sunscreens all typically last from 1 year to 1 and a half years before they expire.

2 Years

Lipliners, eyeliners, lipsticks, nail polishes, powder-based products (like eyeshadows, foundations, etc.), and face/body products that are contained in jars typically last approximately 2 years. To make your products last as long as possible (specifically in reference to the powder-based products,) be sure to clean your brushes.

3 Years

Products that last 3 years include perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, and hairsprays.