A UK research agency survey uncovers a common issue: many women retain cosmetics well beyond their safe shelf life.
Just one in four women discards products showing off-putting smells or discoloration. Yet cosmetics, much like food, carry an expiration date—after opening, bacteria can enter, raising the risk of infections. Organic formulas spoil even faster.
How to spot shelf life:
Check packaging for the open jar pictogram with a number and 'M' (months). This marks the ideal usage window post-opening.
Useful, yet the survey finds most women forget exactly when they first opened the product…
Shelf life overview:
– Concealer: 1 year
– Foundation: 1 year (water-based), 1.5 years (oil-based)
– Face powder: 2 years – Avoid humid spots, as moisture degrades quality.
– Lipstick: 2 years
– Lip pencil: 2 years (sharpen regularly)
– Mascara: 6-12 months
– Eye pencil: 2 years (sharpen regularly)
– Eyeshadow: 2 years
– Nail polish: 1 year (quality-dependent) – Always cap tightly to prevent drying.
