You’ve paid a pretty penny for your favorite foundations, lipsticks and other assorted beauty products, so you want to eke out every last drop before it’s time to toss them. While that may sound smart from a money perspective, is it a good idea from a safety standpoint? Does makeup expire, and if so, can you get away with using it anyway if it seems fine? While you can use it, you really shouldn’t. Makeup can lose its effectiveness, make you break out, or even cause an infection. Unfortunately, cosmetics are not required to have expiration dates. This presents an issue for consumers to know when to discard their products. Too early and they’re wasting product, too late and it causes a safety concern. In general, most makeup can last 1-3 years unopened — when stored in a cool, dry place — and then between a few months and a couple of years after opening. Preservatives do break down over time, even before a product has been officially opened and even in the best of brands. The chart below will give you a better idea of just how long your makeup is good.
