Women keep cosmetics too long. This is apparent from a survey by a British research agency.
Only a quarter of women throw away products that smell strange or are discolored. Yet, just like food, make-up has an expiration date † After opening and use, bacteria can also get into the products that increase the risk of infections † Organic products spoil even faster.
How can you tell how long something can be stored?
Most packages have a pictogram representing an open jar and a number followed by the letter m. This number represents the period during which the cosmetic is preferably used once the product has been opened. The m stands for 'month'.
Handy, but the research also shows that many women often do not remember when they opened a product…
Shelf life at a glance:
– Concealer: 1 year
– Foundation: 1 year (water-based), 1.5 years (oil-based)
– Face powder: 2 years – Keep the powder in a humid place, moisture can affect the quality of the powder.
– Lipstick: 2 years
– Lip pencil: 2 years (regular sharpening)
– Mascara: 6 to 12 months
– Eye pencil: 2 years (regular sharpening)
– Eyeshadow: 2 years
– Nail polish: 1 year (depending on the quality) – Make sure you close the bottle properly. This prevents the nail polish from drying out.
