You probably wouldn't eat food past its expiration date, so why put expired makeup on your lips and the rest of your face? It may surprise you, but just like food, makeup has expiration dates. The trick is to know how quickly your products expire and to keep track of when you bought them. Sound like a lot of trouble? It's not when you consider the repercussions of using old makeup, which can cause eye infections, acne, cold sores (aka herpes), staph infections and more. Where women tend to keep their makeup - the warm, moist, dark bathroom environment - is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. What's amazing is that most women will use old makeup, regardless of the risks. According to a UK study, researchers found that 66 percent of women knowingly used expired makeup. Unfortunately in the United States, the FDA doesn't require expiration dates on cosmetics; however, some companies do provide them voluntarily.
When you purchase new makeup, check for an expiration date on the label. Some popular cosmetic lines don't have a concrete date but will post a little graphic that looks like an open compact with a number that signifies how many months the product is good for. Three to six months for eye makeup and up to a year on most everything else seems to be a pretty good rule of thumb. You might consider putting a small sticker on the makeup upon your first use and noting the date. It's tough to part with makeup, particularly the colors and formulas you love, especially when you spend a lot of money on them. But the repercussions of using old makeup aren't worth it.