Holding onto that beloved mascara or trusty make-up brush? You might want to think again. While it’s tempting to stretch the lifespan of our favourite beauty products, it turns out that clinging onto expired make-up can be detrimental to our skin.
Amish Patel, a qualified aesthetic practitioner and founder of Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic, says decluttering your make-up bag is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. “When using out-of-date products, quite often these products can break down. They can have toxic chemicals in them, and when those break down, they can cause irritation to the skin, along with dermatitis and allergic reactions,” reveals Patel.
“Sometimes products can separate, too, meaning the oils will separate from the rest of the ingredients […] which can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts,” he adds. Not what you want.
So, naturally, we wanted to pin down the lifespans of all our favourite products, from foundation to mascara, and give our skin the best chance going forward.
Mascara
“Mascara needs to be swapped every three months,” says Flanagan. “This is a big one, as mascara is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to eye infections.
Her top tip? “If it starts to dry out or smell different, it’s time to replace it. It goes without saying, but never share your mascara with anyone else.”
Adding his experiences, Patel informed us that “generally, we find that mascara liquid will start to thicken after about three to six months. “If you don’t replace mascaras,” he added, “they are going to start clogging up the pores in your eyelids, which can lead to symptoms such as styes.”
Make-up brushes
When it comes to beauty tools, Patel describes how the lifespan of “make-up brushes depends on whether you’re going to use natural-hair or synthetic brushes – which do tend to last a little bit longer.” He added that synthetic brushes are “generally less porous, so, when you’re using make-up, it’s not being absorbed by the fibres so much and they do last a bit longer”.
Overall, “Make-up brushes tend to be good for two to three years before you should change them,” says Patel. Again, he clarifies, it depends on synthetic versus natural-hair brushes, as well as how well you look after them. You should “deep clean your make-up brushes weekly”, according to Flanagan.
Foundation
For Flanagan, “Liquid formulas should be replaced every six to 12 months, while powders can last up to two years. Always check for changes in texture or smells.”
Patel agrees, qualifying that a foundation’s lifespan “often depends if it’s in a bottle or a tub. It can start to harden, thicken and separate, and, as it becomes thicker, it can clog up our skin”.
We’ve all been guilty of scraping the last precious drops from our foundation tube or bottle, but now’s the time to level up. Make-up expert Sabine Wiesel says Lancôme’s teint idol ultra wear (£30.75, Boots.com) is the way to go. She described it as “an exceptional formula for any skin type looking for a more polished look” in her IndyBest guide to the best foundations.
Lipstick and lip gloss
For lipstick-lovers, Flanagan’s advice is clear: “You should replace it between 12-18 months, and for lip gloss it’s every six to 12 months. If the texture changes or it smells off, say goodbye.”
Beauty blenders
With a changeover frequency that might shock you the most of all those mentioned here, Flanagan confided that you should “swap out your beauty blender every three months – or sooner”.
She also stressed that we need to “wash them regularly, but once they start to tear or hold onto the product even after washing, it’s time for a new one”.
