BN Beauty: From Bad Smells to Colour Change! 7 Signs it’s Time to Breakup with Your Makeup

Let’s face it, we don’t all check the expiry dates on our makeup products. It’s either the label is faded and we can’t even make out what is written on it, or we just don’t bother. Sometimes the only time we throw the tube away is when it’s finished. However, as common as this is, it’s not great for our skin.

Everything has an expiry date and it is important to know when to let go of these products so they don’t affect our skin negatively. Using expired products can lead to breakouts, cause damage to the skin and lead to more skin complications.

What’s the solution ensuring these never happen? Even though we don’t pay attention to the packs and labels of the products, sometimes our products start the breakup process by giving us some signs. From swelling to foul smells – our makeup products have many ways to let us know when its time to let go.

See 7 common products below and how they let us know when it might be time to toss them away.

1. Mascara
This can be quite tricky. Because of its nature – being dark and sticky, mascaras can be a great place for bacteria to thrive; and this could lead to eye infections. To be on the safe side, be sure to sniff the mascara when you buy it and after a while of use. This way you can keep track of the smell and know when it is smelling off.

2. Lipsticks
These are a girl’s best friend, but sometimes betrayal from a lipstick i lurking closer than you think. You can tell if your lipstick is getting close to its expiry date when it starts to change colour and smells different – almost toxic.

Another way is to actually apply it – when lipsticks start to feel drier than usual and doesn’t glide the way they used to, it’s time to toss it.

A great way to preserve your lipstick and help maintain its consistency is to pop it in the fridge. That will keep the moisture sealed and ready for application.

3. Liquid Foundations
A way to tell if your liquid foundation has gone bad is if it has changed texture. Regularly, oil-based foundations last for about 18 months while water-based foundations can go for about a year. If you notice a change in the consistency of the foundation or notice it getting dry, it might be time to throw it away.

4. Concealers
The number one job of a concealer is to cover skin imperfections like blemishes, dark sports etc. When you notice that your concealer is’t as creamy and isn’t doing that great of a job anymore, it could be expired. It may start to get dry, look thicker than usual and become difficult to apply smoothly. When this happens it is best to throw it away as it could lead to breakouts and clog pores.

5. Powder & Cream Blushes
“No, not the blush” – yes the blush! It is fun to think that blushes can do no wrong, but you might change your opinion when you’re staring at the pimples generating on your cheeks. Generally, powder blushes last longer than cream blushes because of their consistency – but this doesn’t mean it won’t eventually expire.

The key cause of quick expiry and dirt on the blush is from the blush brush – so, if you want to extend the life of your blush, keep your blush brush clean and tip-top shape. A great way to also extend the life of your blush is to keep it in a dark space – the reaction of light to the chemicals in the blush could change the colour and cause other reactions that could harm your skin.

6. Eyeshadows
Eyeshadows are a staple of any makeup kit, but as impossible as it seems they can expire. To check for telling signs that your eyeshadow has expired, monitor the colour shade and smell. When it starts to give off a bad smell or when your midnight blue starts to look like a muddy brown, you might want to think twice before you apply.

A general rule of thumb is to change your eyeshadows every 2-3 months to prevent running into complications.

7. Lip Glosses
I know I’m not the only one who has found an old lip gloss and thought “oh, I’ve been looking for you“, then try to apply it and smell something awful. I think lip glosses might be one of the top beauty products that expire quickly. They are usually exposed to the lips and we use our lips for a variety of things. So when you apply and re-apply, your lip gloss comes in contact with dirt & different particles over and over again.

To avoid this, try to wipe your lip gloss often with a wet wipe to clean off some germs, and be sure to change your glosses as often as possible.

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I love getting your feedback – so be sure to share some of the beauty product telling signs you know.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime/Mocker