Opened makeup does not stay fresh forever. Air, fingers, brushes, and bathroom moisture get into products with every use, and formulas slowly dry out, separate, or change smell and texture. Old products also clutter the drawer, making the fresh ones harder to find.
This guide to makeup expiry dates what to throw away works category by category. Times below are typical ranges only. The real authority is the PAO symbol on each package: an open jar icon marked 6M or 12M, meaning months after opening. If smell, texture, color, or separation changes, toss it now, even before that date.
Eyes and Base: The Shortest Shelf Lives
1. Mascara. Typically replace every 3 months after opening, the shortest life on this list. Toss it sooner if it turns dry, clumpy, or stringy, or develops a sharp, sour smell.
2. Liquid eyeliner and gel liner pots. Liquid liners typically last 3 to 6 months, and gel pots typically 6 to 12 months. Toss either if it skips, drags, separates in the pot, or will not smooth out with a clean brush.
3. Cream eyeshadow. Cream and stick shadows typically last 6 to 12 months. Toss the product if it feels gritty, smells waxy or sour, pulls away from the edges of the pot, or no longer spreads smoothly.
4. Pencil eyeliner and brow pencils. Pencils typically last 12 to 24 months, because sharpening removes the outer layer. Toss a pencil if a white film keeps returning, the tip crumbles, or the smell turns stale.
5. Liquid foundation. Liquid and cushion foundations typically last 6 to 12 months. Toss for separation that will not blend back after a gentle shake, a sour or paint-like smell, a yellowed color shift, or a watery, lumpy texture.
6. Cream concealer, blush, and primer. These cream and liquid base products typically last 6 to 12 months. Toss any pot with beads of liquid on top, a grainy texture, or an off smell that was not there before.
Lips, Powders, and Longer-Lasting Color
7. Lipstick. Lipstick typically lasts 12 to 24 months. Toss it if the surface turns gritty or beaded, the smell turns to crayons or old oil, or the texture drags instead of gliding.
8. Lip gloss and liquid lipstick. Glosses and liquid lip colors typically last 6 to 12 months. Toss the tube if the formula turns extra sticky or stringy, smells sour, or splits into clear layers of oil and pigment.
9. Lip liner pencils. Lip liners typically last 12 to 24 months, like other sharpenable pencils. Sharpen before use for a fresh surface. Toss a liner if the core stays hard and waxy or leaves almost no color.
10. Pressed powder, blush, and bronzer. Pressed powders typically last 18 to 24 months. A shiny film on top is surface buildup, but a musty smell, a crumbling pan, or hard clumps mean the product is done.
11. Loose powder and powder foundation. Loose powders typically last 18 to 24 months if kept dry and closed. Use a clean brush or puff. Toss the jar if the powder clumps from moisture, changes color, or smells stale.
12. Powder eyeshadow palettes. Powder shadows typically last 18 to 24 months. Toss the palette if several pans smell stale, crack and lift, turn chalky, or no longer give normal color payoff.
Nail Polish, Tools, and the Labeling Habit
13. Nail polish and top coats. Polish and clear coats typically last 18 to 24 months. Toss polish that stays thick and stringy, will not mix after a gentle roll, or has pigment settled into a hard layer.
14. Makeup sponges. Sponges typically need replacing every 1 to 3 months with regular use. Wash after use and dry fully. Toss a sponge that tears, crumbles, keeps a smell after washing, or stays flattened.
15. Makeup brushes. Brushes can be kept for years if bristles stay soft and washing restores them fully. Replace a brush that sheds constantly, splays out, keeps an odor after washing, or has a cracked, loose handle.
16. Eyelash curler pads and small tools. Curler pads typically need replacing every 3 to 6 months, once a deep groove forms. Wipe metal tools clean and dry them fully. Replace any tool that rusts or bends out of shape.
17. The open-date label on everything new. Add a tiny label or tape dot marked with the month and year opened, on the day a product is first used. Group each category together, and check every label four times a year.
What to Buy
Small removable date labels and a fine marker, typically $5–$10. Pro: Open dates make every future check fast and guess-free. Con: Labels can peel in steam, so tape dots are a backup. Skip if: A marker kept nearby already dates every package.
Replacement makeup sponges, typically $8–$15 for a multi-pack. Pro: Fresh sponges apply product evenly and swap in on schedule. Con: They add repeat cost and waste. Skip if: Brushes handle every base product already.
Gentle brush and sponge cleanser, typically $8–$18. Pro: Regular washing removes buildup that shortens tool life. Con: Strong formulas can dry delicate bristles. Skip if: A mild cleanser on hand already works well for tools.
Replacement eyelash curler pads, typically $4–$9. Pro: A soft new pad grips better than a hard, grooved one. Con: Pads are size-specific, so check fit first. Skip if: A curler is rarely used.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Keeping mascara until the tube feels empty. Mascara has the shortest typical life here, so judge it by date, not by how much remains.
- Ignoring the PAO symbol. A guess based on purchase date misses months spent unopened or already open. Check the jar icon first.
- Trying to revive dried products. Adding water or remover changes the formula and adds moisture it was not made to handle.
- Trusting looks alone. A product can look fine and still smell sour or feel gritty. Check smell, texture, color, and separation together.
- Opening a backup too early. The PAO clock starts at first opening, so an early-opened backup ages beside the product still in use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PAO symbol mean?
The PAO, or period-after-opening, symbol is a small open jar printed on the packaging, marked with a number and M, such as 6M or 12M. It shows the typical months the maker suggests using the product after opening.
What signs mean toss it now?
Toss a product right away for a sour, rancid, or chemical smell, separation that will not blend back, clumps or graininess, a clear color change, or mold-like spots. One sign matters more than any date.
Does unopened makeup go bad too?
Unopened products age more slowly, especially stored cool, dry, and out of direct light, but they do not last forever. Check older items carefully at first use, and treat any off smell or odd texture as a toss sign.
Can powder products be kept longer than liquids?
Usually, yes. Dry powders contain little water, so they typically outlast creams and liquids. Keep lids closed, use clean brushes, and still check for hard film, stale smells, and fading payoff at each review.
Start with mascara and anything that smells off, then work through one category at a time until every open product has a date. Save this post to your Bathroom Organization board on Pinterest so the checklist is handy at your next clear-out.
