Admit it. We are all guilty of holding onto our favorite eye shadow or lipstick for just too long. The fear of never finding the product again makes it hard to part with, but it’s time to let it go. Due to the chemical composition of makeup and other beauty products, over time the ingredients expire and can cause breakouts, skin irritations, and eye infections.  If the product is discolored, cracking or smells funky, rancid or otherwise strange those are sure signs it’s time to ditch it. Here is the typical life span of a number of beauty products:

Foundation: 12 months (water-based) 18 months (oil-based)
Concealer: 12 months
Powders, bronzers, blush: 2 years
Eyeshadow: 2 years (powder) 12-18 months (cream)
Eyeliner: 2 years (pencil) 3-6 months (liquid)
Mascara: 3-4 months
Lipstick: 1-2 years
Lipgloss: 18 months
Lip liner: 2 years
Nail polish: 2 years
Hairspray, gel, shampoo and conditioners: 3 years
Sunscreen and body lotions: 2 years

To get the most quality time out of your favorites, be sure to close products tightly, avoid sunlight exposure or extreme heat or cold. Also avoid temptation to swap products with friends. You will be sharing more than the latest season shades.

* Quick Tip: Whenever you buy a new product, write your own expiration date with a Sharpie to keep track.

One good tip for preserving makeup: keep it in the refridgerator unless it’s open and you’re using it regularly. The cold will lengthen the life of your products. However, you should still be careful, because the fridge cannot preserve everything forever. If you can’t remember how long you’ve had the product, toss it, even if you’ve kept it cold.