talkhealth Blog

How many of us have bags or draws where we hoard our make up long after its shelf life but how long should we keep our make-up for? I know myself I have lipsticks and eye shadows from years gone by probably some of the old packaging information has worn off and none of them can be good for my skin. I’m not saying we should immediately throw away our old make-up, just that we should be aware our products won’t last forever. However if you have had an eye infection you should throw away your eye liners and mascaras as you could reinfect your eye when you use them again. Below I have researched the shelf life of the main make-up products these may vary slightly from brand to brand especially organic or mineral make-up. This information is probably even more important if you have skin problems and sensitivities so keep an eye on when you purchased your make-up – you could even put a date on the packaging with a labelling pen.

Shelf life of make-up:
Mascara – this has one of the shortest shelf lives and it is recommended you throw yours away after 3-4months. Don’t pump the wand in and out to get more mascara out by doing this you are exposing it to more air so therefore it will dry out quicker in the tube. If you find your wand is clogged after a few weeks, one trick to get the most of your mascara is buy a separate wand and use that instead.
Foundation – this can last up to 18 months if kept out of direct sunlight.
Concealer – Perfect for disguising dark circles and blemishes this lasts up to 12 months
Lipsticks – These last up to two-three years. Use a lip brush to get every last bit out of your favourite shade.
Eyeshadow –  Powder eyeshadow can last up to a couple of years but cream ones last approximately six to eight months.
Eye Liner Pencils – This lasts up to 18 months to three years – keep it sharpened though for the best results and also you won’t damage or scratch this delicate skin area.

For more articles and research about skincare and reactions have a look at our website www.pureandgentle.com

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Lisa

I have always had hyper-sensitive skin, particularly on my face, resulting in areas of itchy, dry eczema which now has been diagnosed as Rosacea along with the eczema. Also a close family member was diagnosed with a Maligant Melanoma skin cancer in 2007 forcing the whole family to become more aware of the effects the sun can have on our skin and how chemotherapy and other cancer treatments has such an effect on your skin too. I have subsequently spent time investigating the sun screen market to not only provide the right protection, but won’t cause skin irritation along with moisturisers and other products for after and during cancer treatment. I am not a medic; I am a mum with many years’ experience of having to deal with skin problems and www.pureandgentle.com was started because of this to find non- irritant products, research and information all in one place. I have found small tricks that can help along the way which I can share with you and hopefully relieve some of your problems with your skin.