Your go-to lipstick for a night out, that lip gloss you’ve had lying around forever, the eyeshadow pot that seems to never run out, all this stuff’s designed to last forever… right?
Well, not really. While makeup doesn’t have as short a shelf life as the food in your fridge or a pint of milk, if you’re wondering, ‘does makeup expire?’ the answer is a pretty firm yes.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of makeup expiry dates, looking at how long your favourite makeup should last, how to tell when it’s gone bad, and the best tips for keeping your makeup as fresh as possible!
Does makeup expire?: Key takeaways
- Makeup doesn't last forever. Once opened, products react with air and pick up bacteria from use, so they gradually change in texture, smell, and colour, and can irritate your skin.
- Check the PAO (period after opening) symbol: the little open jar with a number and "M" beside it, which tells you how many months a product should last once opened.
- Shelf life varies by product. Mascara and liquid eyeliner last around 3 months; lip gloss, setting sprays, and primers around 6 months; liquid foundation and concealer around 12 months; and lipstick 12-24 months. Powdered makeup lasts the longest, at 24+ months.
- These timelines are only a guide, so rely on the signs too: colour changes, clumpy or separated textures, a sour smell, reduced performance, or irritation are all cues to bin a product.
- You can keep makeup fresher for longer by washing brushes and tools after every use, not sharing products, and washing your hands before application.
- Resealing products after use and storing them somewhere cool and dry also helps keep makeup fresh, as heat, humidity, and air contact can all speed up expiry.
Does makeup expire?
To put it simply, yes, your favourite makeup does, and will, expire if it’s left open long enough. Like food, your makeup has a shelf life, the only difference being that your cosmetics tend to last a little longer than a box of eggs (thankfully!)
Once opened, your lipstick, eyeshadow, or any other product will begin to react with the air and all the bacteria it picks up from use, and deteriorate. The longer a makeup product has been open, the less effective it will be, with most changing in texture, smell, and colour.
As well as this, thanks to all the bacteria a makeup product like lipstick or eyeshadow will pick up, the older it is, the more likely it is to have some sort of nasty bacteria hanging on it that could cause some irritation.
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How do I check expiration dates of cosmetics?
In most cases, it’s pretty easy to check the expiration date of cosmetics.
On your makeup’s packaging, there should be a small symbol of an open jar with a number next to it; this is a PAO symbol.
PAO symbols tell you how long your makeup product should last after it has been opened. Next to the symbol of a jar, you’ll see a number and a letter ‘M’; this is how many months the makeup should be good for once opened.
If you can't find your PAO number, don’t worry; there are some pretty easy-to-spot signs that makeup has expired that we’ll dive into later.
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How long does makeup last?
So, now that we’ve answered the question of ‘does makeup expire’ you’re probably wondering how long does mascara last, how long does lipstick keep for, or how long any of your favourite products are good to use.
There’s no set timeline on how long makeup will last, but there is a general range that varies between different products. Mascara, for example, tends to be one of the first products to expire, while powdered makeups last much longer. Here’s a quick breakdown of how long you can expect some of your favourite products to last:
- Mascara & liquid eyeliners - 3 months
- Lip gloss - 6 months
- Setting sprays & primers - 6 months
- Liquid foundation - 12 months
- Concealer - 12 months
- Lipstick - 12-24 months (depending on formula)
- Powdered makeup (blush, eyeshadow, foundation) - 24+ months
It’s important to remember that this is just a guide; there’s no set timeline for makeup expiry dates, so if you’re worried about makeup being out of date, make sure to look out for telltale signs as well.
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How long does your makeup last: at a glance
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| Type of Makeup | Average Shelf Life |
|---|---|
| Mascara & liquid eyeliner | 3 months |
| Lip gloss & balm | 6 months |
| Setting sprays & primer | 6 months |
| Liquid foundation | 12 months |
| Concealer | 12 months |
| Lipstick | 12-24 months |
| Powdered makeup | 24+ months |
Signs your makeup may have expired
Though they’re definitely helpful, PAO dates and makeup expiry timelines can only tell you so much; what’s most important is knowing how to recognise the signs that your makeup’s expired.
While all makeup’s different, there are some fairly universal signs that it may be time to toss it:
- Colour changes: As we mentioned earlier, once opened, your makeup begins to react with air and change. One common sign of this is colour changes: lipstick dulling, foundation fading, concealer darkening. If you notice a change in colour, it’s time to throw it out.
- Texture differences: Powders clumping or becoming grittier, liquids separating or becoming stickier, are all signs that makeup has gone bad.
- Smell: If you can’t check the expiration date of cosmetics, then smell is a great test. Just like food that’s gone bad, makeup that’s off will have a sour, bad smell.
- Efficacy: If your makeup isn’t working as well as it used to, it might be a sign it’s expired.
Our top tips for keeping your makeup fresh
While we can’t change the answer to the question of ‘do cosmetics expire ’, there are some things we can do to help keep makeup as fresh as possible once it’s been opened. Here are a few of our top tips for keeping your makeup fresh for as long as possible:
- Wash your makeup brushes and any other tool you use for application after every use.
- Try not to share makeup, as this can accelerate bacteria buildup and breakdown.
- Seal all products after use to keep air contact as limited as possible.
- Store all makeup in a cool, dry place, as humidity and warmth can accelerate expiration.
- Wash your hands before using if you want to be extra careful about bacteria getting onto your products.
While you can’t stop makeup from expiring completely, following these simple steps can help to keep it fresh for as long as possible, so you can get the most out of your products.
Keep your makeup fresh with NYX
While we can’t do anything about your makeup expiring, we can help you replace it. At NYX, we’ve got a huge selection of face, lip, and eye makeup (plus makeup tools!) to help you replace any old favourites that may have gone bad. Browse our full range of makeup and discover your new favourite (and fresh) products.
Discover NYX’s Full Makeup Range
