You’re not going to want to hear this but you might be damaging your skin by using expired makeup. It’s not your fault. Most of us aren’t aware of makeups’ expiration date. When was the last time you checked?
The longevity of makeup is not as long as you think. According to Lindsay Silberman, a magazine editor and influencer from New York City, here’s how long certain makeup lasts:
Lipstick & gloss = 1-2 years
Mascara = 2-3 months
Foundation = 6-12 months
Eyeshadow = 6-12 months
Eyeliner & lip liner = 1 year
Bronzer & blush = 2 years
If you haven’t already, it might be time for a thorough declutter of your makeup stash. But don’t just throw it away. There’s a right and wrong way to dispose of makeup.
What to do with expired makeup
It may surprise you to learn that makeup is considered hazardous material. Because some of the ingredients make them highly flammable, they're dangerous to transport.
I’m not saying what you’re putting on your face is hazardous. We couldn’t use makeup if they weren’t safely tested. It’s the disposing of them where things get tricky.
Because makeup is considered hazardous waste, it’s important to know the proper method of throwing expired products out. Here are two important things to note:
1. Do not pour liquids down the drain
This can cause the chemicals to spill into our water supply. Instead, use a damp paper towel to wipe out as much of the product as possible. Then recycle the bottle if it’s plastic or glass.
2. Find a local disposal center
If you’re unable to get the majority of the product out of the bottle, throw the entire thing in the trash. Or bring it to a local disposal center. Most accept makeup as hazardous waste and have scheduled dates on their website when you can bring them in.
You can also find a Terracycle drop off bin and bring them there. I wrote about Terracycle in our decoration downsizing blog post. They truly are an amazing company.
How often should you check your makeup’s expiration date?
There’s no unanimous decision, though most agree it’s good practice to check them every couple of months. I would suggest checking your makeup stash every three months for expired products. If you don’t buy a lot of makeup then twice a year is more than enough.
Here’s a neat trick to help you along the way. Stick a label on the product the day you buy it. Simply put the month and the year. This way you can see how long you’ve had it for.
Organizing daily and overstock makeup
Now that you’ve sorted through all your makeup and properly disposed of the expired ones, it’s time for the best part: organizing it!
First, let’s separate the remaining makeup you have. Use one or more of the following systems:
Separate by product.
Separate by color.
Separate by size.
Separate by use.
Next, set aside the makeup you use daily. These are the products you’re going to want front and center. Even if they’re a mixed batch, gather them together, and push them aside.
After you’ve completed that step, it’s time to decide how you want to set things up.
The most challenging part of setting up your makeup is figuring out how you want to display it. If you don’t have much surface space you’ll want to keep it organized in drawers. If you want to keep your daily makeup out and about you want to make sure it doesn’t overtake the surface area you have.
It’s a matter of trial and error, but there are a few quick and easy methods to get things organized.
I love storing my makeup in clear containers. It helps me see all of my products at a glance. It also elevates the look of my countertop without adding unnecessary clutter to my drawers.
Here are some great surface makeup organizers:
This is where you want to organize your daily makeup. Remember, you don’t have to fill it to the brim. If your daily makeup only fills half of the space, that’s ok. Don’t add products you don’t use just to fill the organizer.
Organizing doesn’t mean cramming every available space you have. It’s about creating and maintaining a unique system that works for you. So when you’re setting up your daily makeup, only store the products you use every day.
If a clear container isn’t your aesthetic, this Lazy Susan is a great alternative. It comes with removable bins you can mix and match to your needs and takes up less space.
Once you’ve completed your daily makeup set up, let’s get the rest of it put away.
For your overstock products, try one of these drawer organization systems:
When organizing your overstock, stick to these tips:
Keep all similar products together. Lipsticks with lipsticks. Blush with blush. Mascara with mascara. You get the idea.
Pair similar colors together. You can set them up light to dark or most used to less used. You can get creative with how you store your colors, but it’s always best to keep the most used colors within reach.
Create a miscellaneous drawer. This is where you’ll put tweezers, backup brushes, beauty blenders, and more. The bulkier stuff you don’t need all the time but have easy access to when you do.
It’s normal to accumulate more makeup than you know what to do with. This is why it’s important to check their expiration dates every couple of months. After you’ve disposed of expired makeup you’ll be surprised by how little you have left to work with.
When it comes to makeup it’s definitely true that “less is more.” And when you realize how much makeup you throw away, you’ll become more conscious of how much you buy in the future. A win/win situation.
If you know someone whose makeup collection is taking over their life, consider buying them a gift certificate. I’d love to help them sort and toss what’s expired and better yet, to organize their entire stash.
Do you know of any other way to dispose of makeup safely? Share it with us in the comments below.