Trash that old Make-Up Stash

OK world, I will say it “I am a product junkie.” I love everything from lipstick to nail polish and before I started my own skin care business, let’s not discuss the “research” I conducted in the name of skin care. On top of that, after YEARS of being loyal to a brand of make-up I switched to a mineral based make-up. This left me with a lot of old products that I am no longer using.

So my bathroom is filled with half empty tubes, eye shadow colors from college and black nail polish. I know, I know, I have to let it go. This week’s resolution is to get rid of all the expired products.

But how do I know if a product has expired? Here are a few rules of thumb. Do remember that each brand has it own shelf life.

Rule Number One: If it looks bad, smells bad or feels bad, it is bad.
Rule Number Two: The more natural the product, the shorter the shelf life. In other words, Jackson Sage products are on the shorter end of the shelf life due to the lack of chemicals to prolong the shelf life.
Rule Number Three: The more water, the shorter the life span of the product.

Skin and Body Care Products:
* Cleansers/Toners: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Creams/Lotions: 6 months to 1 year from purchase. Look for separate to let you know it is really time to say good bye.
* Oil Based Serums: 1 year from purchase.
* Oil Free Serums: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Masques: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Powder Clay Masque or Cleansers: 1 year from purchase.
* Bar Soap: Rarely do they expire. Natural soaps will over time lose their fragrance due to the lack of chemicals to hold the fragrance.
* Liquid Soap: If it is a detergent based cleansing gel, I suggest throwing it away on principle alone. It is bad for your body and the environment. But if is a natural cleanser, 1 year from purchase.
* Nail Polish: 1 year from purchase, or so I have heard. Not sure how something so toxic can expire. My guess is this number is based on the fact that it starts to dry up after being exposed to air. But it is a good rule of thumb since although flat black was recently in, that might not be the case by the time I actually get around to using it again.

Make -up:
* Liquid Foundation: 1 year from purchase.
* Powders: 2 years from purchase.
* Eye Liner Pencil: 2 years from purchase.
* Mascara: 4 months from purchase.
* Eye Shadow: 2 years from purchase.

Hair:
* Shampoo: 1 to 2 years from purchase.
* Conditioner: 6 months to 2 years from purchase.
* Styling products: 1 to 2 years from purchase.

Mouth:
* Toothpaste: 2 years (see expiration date).

Since most things seem to expire around year. January is a good month to have as the throw away and replace month. This makes it easier to keep track of when it is time to let go of that flat black nail polish.