Beauty Advice

I am going to school to be an optician. the one thing that i can tell you is to change mascara's every two to three months. do not share eye make up with anyone because of potential risk of eye infection. mascara especially can harbor bacteria and give you a bad eye infection. as far as foundation it will get dry and cakey and after a year or so may tend to look yellow or not blend in right when you put it on. that foundation that is old is not harmful but will not be as fresh. if they stay in the original packaging and are not open they have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years.

C.,
I was always told 6 months after opening, but I found the following information on the internet (http://www.celebrity-beauty-tip-goldmine.com/discard-make... may be helpful:

Foundation:
• Life-span = 6 months to 1 year
• Warning signs = thickening, altered color, or change in odor

Concealer:
• Life-span = 1 to 1 ½ years
• Warning signs = color change or thickening

Brush, Face powder, Eye-shadow:
• Life-span = 3 years
• Warning signs = texture change when applying, dryness or change in color

Mascara:
• Life-span = 3 to 4 months
• Warning signs = Change in odor, texture, or color

Pencils: (for eyes or lips)
• Life-span = 3 to 6 months
• Warning signs = Change in odor, texture, or color

Lipstick:
• Life-span: 2 years
• Warning signs = taste or odor change, stickiness

hey C.,

i just wanted to share my strategy for how to remember when you bought the item so you know when it's time to get rid of it:

sharpie marker the date on the lid of the product, esp. mascara. works every time!

Hi C., The "rule of thumb" for eye make-up like mascara or eye-liner is 6 weeks then toss it. That is assuming that you wear it every day though. If you ever get an eye infection you need to toss any of the eye make-up you wore right before the infection be it shadow, liner or mascara right away. With shadow's, foundations, cover-up I have always been told the "rule of thumb" is to toss it after 6 to 9 months once it has been opened and used. Of course you should never share make-up, even with family members. Another thing I was always told is to never mix brands of make-up...as using different brands together could result in a chemical reaction on your face. Now I don't know how much of this is true. But personally I do toss my mascara and liners after about 8 weeks of lots of use, just to be on the safe side around my eyes! Hope this helps! Best wishes.

Hi C.,

I am an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay. Here's my rule of thumb.

Your mascara is the main thing to keep track of. You should dispose of it every 3-4 months due to bacteria.

Your foundation SHOULD have a 3 year shelf life.

Hope this helps!

A. D

If it isn't clumpy or smelly, and still looks good, keep it!

I've heard eye makeup three months, six for the rest.

Hi C. B,

My name is J.,I am a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. You mention that you have foundation that is probably a year old. Please discard any of them that is more than 1 year. The life of a Mascara is 3 to 4 months. You need to visit and shop on my website marykay.com/fabulousjc to get the service you so need.

Think Pink!
J.

Hello,

I am a Mary Kay consultant and I have been told by our company that mascara should be discarded after 3 months. It can hold bacteria and be harmful to you after that time frame. You might think there is more in there to use but it should be thrown away. As for foundation, I am not positive on that, I dont have anything in writing but I am thinking 1 yr.

Hope this helps
B.