Why not give your makeup bag a makeover for a fresh new look. Throw Out any product that has been left unused and exceeds it’s expiry date and maybe treat yourself to some new sexy makeup to give your beautiful skin a new look with these 6 simple makeup tips and tricks for a makeup bag makeover.
Recently as I was applying my makeup I noticed what a state my make up box was in, yes a box! I have so many cosmetics that I have bought over the year and never worn, you know those impulse buys after seeing the latest looks make up looks in a magazine or on the TV and then regretting it as soon as you get home. Apart from wanting to tidy up my make up before adding some new sets I was bought for Christmas, I wanted to get rid of any old makeup that potentially might have gone off! You don’t really think of beauty products going bad, but makeup such as Mascara, foundation and even nail varnish all have expiration dates. So here are my top makeup tips and tricks for cleaning out your makeup bag this year.
6 Simple Makeup Tips and Tricks
How long does your Makeup last?
Some beauty products have an expiration or use by date on the packaging, yet some have a letter on the inside of the lid or jar which is usually a Y for year or M for month. For example 6M means the product will last for up to 6 months after opening. You will not believe the amount of products that do actually go out of date, if you didn’t know this makeup tip then head to your cosmetics box now and get checking you may well be surprised.
Mascara
Mascara has the lowest shelf life of any makeup item, usually 3 months after opening. I am guilty of having multiple mascaras open at the same time, just because I sometimes can not find one when I need it so I end up opening a new one. I then end up having to throw away expensive makeup which is such a waste of money. You can normally tell when mascara has expired as it goes lumpy and dry, this ladies is when it is time to throw it away! Using it after 3 months can also irritate your eyes.
Lipstick
This shocked me as I did not realise lipstick had a lifespan, It is however usually 2 years after opening. The general rule for spotting if your lipstick is ready for the bin is when it becomes dry and hard to apply. Lipgloss has only a 1 year lifespan and can go extra sticky when it has gone off.
Foundation
Liquid foundation has only a lifespan of 6-12 months, you can normally tell when a liquid foundation has gone off as it normally separates into layers and can appear as if oil or a liquid comes away when you squeeze out the foundation. Unfortunately, this has happened to my Mac foundation which is practically full (Gutted).
Eyeshadow
Eyeshadow tends to have quite a long lifespan of up to 2 years and tend to become more dry and flaky, they can still be used they just will not perform as well as a new eyeshadow.
Nail varnish
This is one of my favourite makeup tips and tricks Nail Varnish has a lifespan of 1-2 years, the tell tale sign the varnish has gone off is when, even after a vigorous shake it will not blend together and still appears all gloopy. A little tip to extend the life of your nail varnish is to add a couple of drops of nail varnish remover, a cheap and easy way to make your polish last a little longer.
Makeup brushes
Did you know that your Makeup brushes could contain bed bugs? No, I didn’t either and was completely shocked and disgusted when I learnt of this last year. You are supposed to wash your brushes weekly to keep them fresh and perform better but more importantly freeze your cosmetic brushes just for a few hours, they don’t need any more than that. Try to freeze items at least once a week, this will keep your brushes bug free which could also be the cause of the odd rash you may well be getting.
I would love to see some before and after pictures of your makeup stash, Is there any out there as bad as mine?
Lysa @ Welcome to My Circus says
January 15, 2015 at 3:30 amWhat great tips! I didn’t know that lipstick had a shelf life either… Good to know! 😉 Stopping by via Brilliant Blog Posts.
Much love,
Lysa xx
whatkatysaid says
January 15, 2015 at 9:57 amBed bugs yuk!!!!! Thanks for this, going to go treat myself to new brushes!!! #brillblogposts
amy cooper says
January 15, 2015 at 8:26 pmwow didn’t know that about the bed bugs in the brushes i am quite odd about keeping my brushes clean but this has made me want to go and replace them all!! good tips x
Merlinda Little says
January 16, 2015 at 10:09 amThe brushes! I wash them but not weekly so will do that (NOW!) and freezing them makes a lot of sense. This is really helpful post. Thanks for sharing =) #brillblogposts
HonestMum says
January 16, 2015 at 6:34 pmFab tips here, I’m good at replenishing my make up. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts, I ask everyone who links up adds my badge or links back on their posts, please do so too if you can, thanks
Sally says
April 26, 2015 at 1:58 pmGreat feature – I was horrified last weekend after chatting with a friend about her wedding make up and she confessed she’s had some of her eye make up for 15 years. She’s now buying new make up! I’m quite strict with my make up, but mainly as I have a few staples and they get used up quickly,
rachelhirst says
May 14, 2015 at 8:51 amSally! 15 years, 15 years my god how sparingly does she apply the products ha! I love coming up with new ideas but I must say I still like to use mine sparingly too… Mainly because I hate spending money.
Laura Kilby says
April 30, 2015 at 6:05 pmI never knew about the Y’s and M’s standing for expiry dates! Thanks for enlightening me – I’d best do some sorting out of my make-up drawer pronto
rachelhirst says
May 9, 2015 at 10:20 amIt’s certainly worth knowing Laura.. I was shocked when I first found out.. Rachel X
Rachel says
May 12, 2015 at 3:58 pmNever put nail polish remover in your nail polishes, it ruins them. If they’ve gone gloopy you can get proper nail polish thinner from the chemists which does the job much better x
rachelhirst says
May 12, 2015 at 9:08 pmThank you Rachel (Great Tip)..
louise mcnicol says
May 21, 2015 at 1:15 pmGreat post, i didn’t know the various shelf lives of cosmetics, luckily…or not mines never lasts as my teenage daughter pinches it all!
Zena's Suitcase says
September 23, 2015 at 7:35 pmYou’ve got quite a stash there! I’m going to be adding ‘washing make up brushes’ to my weekend to do list. That’s so icky!
Rachel Hirst says
September 24, 2015 at 7:04 amThank you Zena! You just have to get your make-up in order… or it goes off and looks like you say “ICKY”!