Guide

How long your make-up lasts

12.9.2019

Translation: machine translated

Your make-up doesn't have to go mouldy to be ruined. I'll tell you how long you can use it for and where manufacturers hide the best-before date on their product labels.

You have to look very closely to spot the small symbol for the best-before date on your cosmetic products: an open jar labelled with a number and the letter "M". The small pictogram indicates how many months the product can be kept after it has been opened for the first time. So if your lip gloss is labelled "6M", you can use it for at least six months after you have opened it. The manufacturer can guarantee safe use for this period. However, the product does not necessarily have to be bad after this period. Because air penetrates after opening, the moisture evaporates. They gradually dry out. Products containing oil become rancid due to oxidation.

Germs, mould spores and dust also get in via hands, brushes, sponges and air. Although preservatives counteract this, they only last until the specified best-before date. If a product has a shelf life of less than 30 months when unopened, the jar symbol is replaced by an expiry date. This is the case, for example, with products that do not contain preservatives. The jar symbol, on the other hand, is found on cosmetics that have a shelf life of more than 30 months unopened. [[image:28817197 "You will see the jar symbol at the bottom right of the label."]]

As a general rule: If the product changes its consistency, colour and/or smell, it is time to say "adiós", regardless of the information on the product.

Mascara

You need to be particularly careful with make-up that you use on your eyes. Mascara and eyeliner generally have a maximum shelf life of six months. Because you pick up bacteria with every application with the brush and insert it into the jar, your mascara is a real breeding ground for bacteria. You should dispose of products that you haven't used for a long time as they can lead to conjunctivitis or the formation of a sty. To prevent this from happening in the first place, I advise you to change your mascara every two to four months. Too much pumping will also cause your mascara to dry out and become clumpy before the specified six months.

Powder and eyeshadow

Powdery, dry textures are usually labelled "24M" and therefore have a shelf life of two years according to the manufacturer. But let's be honest: most beauty junkies don't even come close to using up a powder or eyeshadow palette within this period. So keep a close eye on your product after 24 months. Is it mouldy? Is the colour still the same? In addition, skin oil gets into your powder through your brush, which causes the surface to become hard.

Foundation and other liquid products

Foundations and concealers often have a shelf life of six to twelve months. Depending on whether the product is equipped with a pump dispenser (no air or impurities can get in) or an applicator, the expiry process can be accelerated. Itchiness or pimples are also signs that your foundation is going off.

Lipsticks

The higher the fat content in your lipsticks, the faster they go rancid. This is particularly the case with moisturising formulations. Lipsticks usually have a shelf life of between 12 and 24 months. Just like mascaras, they provide a good breeding ground for viruses and bacteria. That's why you shouldn't use them again after a cold if you used them while you were unwell. Better safe than sorry.

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Natalie Hemengül

Senior Editor

Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.

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How long your make-up lasts

Mascara

Powder and eyeshadow

Foundation and other liquid products

Lipsticks

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Reckon you don’t wash your make-up brushes regularly enough?

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