You Might Be Using Expired Makeup And Not Even Know It!

The makeup drawer, a haven for beauty addicts everywhere. I mean, how can't a girl's heart leap of joy when she sees a shelf full of liquid lipstick, cheek tint and foundation? Our advice? Dip into your makeup drawer a little more often because before you know it, your prized bronzers and powders will be inching towards expiry. To make the most of your makeup drawer contents, find out exactly when they expire and if they're well past that deadline, toss them out, stat!

"An easy way to determine the life of your makeup is by checking the PAO container symbol with a number that's at the base of most products," reveals makeup artist Mausam Gandhi. "If the expiry month and year is specified, it's foolproof. This comes into practice from the time you open the product, not when you buy it."

This handy list will keep all those expiry dates in one place for you.

Eyeliner - 1 year

In the case of pot gel liner, its shelf life is around 6 - 8 months mainly because the brush keeps being dipped into it. Thankfully, our favourite kajal pencils last around a year because they are retractable or sharpened so new product is constantly being used from the tube.

Liquid products - 6 months to 1 year

Liquid products like foundation, liquid lipstick and eyeliner all begin to expire 6 months from when the product is opened. If they include pumps that don't come in direct contact with your skin, they usually have a longer life span. Mausam says, "It's important to store liquid makeup properly in a dark space. This is because it has a higher chance of splitting and spoiling under direct sunlight."

Powders - 1 to 2 years

Powder formulations are definitely the most generous picks from the beauty kit. Products like eyeshadow, bronzer and blush are dry and hence, have a lower chance of breeding bacteria. Great news for that stash of shadows you barely use!

Lipstick - 2 years

While lipstick is generally not a fussy product and can last for approximately 2 years, it does need to be used carefully because it comes in contact with your lips. Occasionally, wipe the uppermost layer with wet wipes and seal the cap well when you toss it into your bag.