by I don’t buy any beauty products in January. I try not to buy anything except groceries, travel and other essentials. But I did a good sorting and reorganization of all my beauty supplies.
First I check what I have and remove anything that is open and no longer working. Manufacturers’ advice may vary, but I use the following rules of thumb: Open skin care lasts about a year; And a change in color doesn’t necessarily spell death, but a change in texture (when products chip, thin, or crystallize) or smell (expired skincare has a distinctive smell) signals the end.
Some active ingredients lose their effectiveness over time. However, thanks to advances in cosmetic science, this is easier to avoid than it used to be. The contents of pipette/dropper bottles or open glass packaging often spoil more quickly than the contents of an airless pump. Wet products like lotions, creams, and gels have a much shorter lifespan than dry powders, which last forever (I actually still have eyeshadows that I wore to acid house raves).
Dry powders last forever. In fact, I still have the eyeshadows I wore to acid house raves
If powder products form a greasy film on their surface, carefully scrape it off with a sharp knife. Whatever is underneath is probably fine. Ditto, pencils. Sharpen and move on unless something seems wrong.
Open foundation, primer and concealer can be expected to last a maximum of one year. Lipsticks and glosses will last a few years, maybe longer if you disinfect the applicators or applicators with the sponge. The mascara has to be opened and used up: no bursting in the cupboard – you have a maximum of three to six months. Things with high alcohol content like hairspray, hand sanitizer and makeup setting spray are the Olivia de Havillands of beauty – all enjoying exceptionally good innings. Unopened products usually have a shelf life of three to four years, but I find that “clean beauty” products, those that do not contain traditional and proven preservatives such as parabens, can have the shelf life of Liz Truss.
Then I rearrange the survivors into satisfying ranks of Mujis PP container (from £2.50) and label them with my Dymo labeling machine (any excuse). I strongly recommend it.
If you find new and unopened toiletries that you probably won’t use, drop them off at your local food bank or consider donating to a hygiene poverty charity, such as Sanitation Poverty charity Beauty bankswhich – full disclosure – I co-founded and run on a voluntary basis. We have donation bins in over 100 Superdrug stores and your support will mean something to someone.
