How long do you keep your make up?

Do you keep your make up too long? Do you know when you should throw out your make or do you disregard the rules? I think I've been guilty of both. I've also been guilty of not cleaning my make up brushes as often as I should, but I digress.

First off, if your make smells or stinks, looks different or has separated you need to throw it out.

Make sure your hands are always clean before you start touching your make up. That's one way to decrease the amount of bacteria that gets on your make up.

All products have a different shelf life depending on what's in them.

Mascaras are the most notorious because they are breeding grounds for bacteria because of their wet and dark consistencies.

Oil-Free Foundation - 1 year

Concealer - 12-18 months

Powder - 2 years

Cream Blush - 12-18 months

Powder Eye Shadow - 2 years

Cream Eye Shadow - 12-18 months

Eyeliner - 2 years

Liquid Eyeliner - 3-6 months

Mascara - 3 months

Lipstick - 2 years

Lip gloss - 18-24 months

If you're using natural products, you will have to throw those out sooner because they do not contain any ingredients to help them last longer.

I've also noticed many make up companies including the number of months to keep the product once it's been opened.

If you cannot remember how long you've had it, it's a good indication that you need to replace it.

My next blog post will be about how to prolong the shelf life of your products by keeping them clean.