Woman and beauty products share a deep bond. Rarely will you will find a woman walk steadfastly past a make-up and skin care counter at the shopping mall. To look good and be appreciated is a need we women have. And for this, we end up hoarding a lot of make-up articles and skin care products.

In this pile will be some stuff that surely won’t see the light of the day. There are chances that in the drawers of our dressing tables would be some product which we have used ‘only once’. Hence we think, ‘I can still use it’. But rarely do we realize that we are going to use decaying make-up onto our face. It is necessary that just like we take care to eat good food, we should also take care not to use make-up products that are way beyond their shelf life.

Why not start with cleaning out your vanity shelf and making an inventory? This will give you an idea what you have and need. Our make-up box contains a variety of things. Listed below are some of the commonly used items and their estimated shelf-life after opening their seals.

• MASCARA: It is recommended that you toss out your mascara after 3 months. Mascara that is more than 3 months old can give you conjunctivitis. Germs thrive in moist areas like mascara tube. Definitely not worth it, isn’t? Moreover, with every use air is introduced into the tube that will dry the mascara soon.
• EYE-LINER: Since the eye-liner is used near the eyes, it is necessary that you are very careful. The bacteria that get accumulated can give you severe infections and itchiness. Pencil eye-liner will last you if you are prompted on sharpening it. Liquid eye-liner should be dumped after 6 months.
• EYE SHADOW: Instead of enhancing the appeal of your eyes, should the eye shadow induce irritation, it’s time to bid it goodbye. Powders last longer; you can replace them in 24 months. Avoid dipping your fingers in an eye shadow jar. Spoon out a bit and use it. The shelf life of cream based ones is 12 months.
• LIPSTICK: Oil based or glossy lipsticks can tend to smell stale in time. A lipstick has expired if it does not spread evenly and if your lips feel heavy. A matte lipstick will last for 24 months, lip gloss will be useful for 12 months and cream based ones will work for 18 months.
• CONCEALER: If your concealer ends up giving you blemishes then it’s high time you show it the way to the disposal bin. A powdered concealer will stay put for 2 years and liquid based ones will stay for 1 year maximum.
• FOUNDATION: Liquid foundation will reach the end of their shelf life very quickly. Also, moist ground can breed germs quickly. Hence, it is necessary to keep them in a cool and dry environment. If it is in a jar, you can use it till 3 months. Powder ones will last for around 18 months.
• NAIL POLISH: It will turn clumpy in a year’s time or depending on how often you open the bottle.
• BRUSHES: Since they are used quite frequently, it is necessary that you wash them every week; this will stop the bacteria from breeding. Using synthetic brushes will be more beneficial.
• MAKE-UP BAG: Airing your bag once a week is necessary. Also wash it nicely and remove traces of dust with a narrow brush. Your bag will last longer.

Remember, if your cosmetics end up irritating your skin, toss them out. They could induce breakouts. If you had a bout of cough or cold, replace your lipsticks. Get rid of old eye make-up to reduce the risk of contracting conductivities. Read instructions and details of the use of the product before buying it (find it on the cover of the product). Always wash your hands before handling any make-up products.