Next time you open your make up bag, try to remember when you purchased its contents. How long has that eyeliner been in there? What about that lipstick you only wear on special occasions? If you are struggling to recall, the chances are you may need to get rid of them.
To help us know when to throw out old makeup, skincare and cosmetics are stamped with a Period After Opening (PAO) or Expiry Date. The PAO identifies the lifetime of a cosmetics product after its package has been opened for the first time.
The PAO is symbolized on products by a picture of an open jar with a figure which represents how long the product can be used for. The Expiry Date or Best Before Date on products shows the exact date a product will expire by whether it has been used or not.
Unsure of when to throw your make up away? Then check out this guide…
PAO timeline – beginning from the time you first open these products:
Powders and eye shadow: 2 years
Cream eye shadows: 12 to 18 months
Blusher 12-18 months
Foundation: 1 year
Lipstick & lip liner: 12-18 months
Tinted moisturisers: 12 months
Mascara: 3 months
Eyeliner: 24 months
Shampoo: 24 months
Shower gel: 24 months
Studies show only one in four women pay attention to the dates written on products, which indicates that there are possibly millions of women who are using make up which is doing them more harm than good eg a woman who is using an eyeliner more than three years after it was bought actually runs the risk of catching an eye-infection! And finally, take care when sharing your make-up as the risk of infection is increased when you do.