Makeup Expiry Dates: When to Keep It and When to Toss It

By Alex Carter  ·  Published September 1, 2026  ·  8-minute read  ·  Glow Ledger Beauty Guides

Almost everyone owns makeup that is older than it should be: a mascara from last spring, a foundation that has been open for two years, a lipstick that predates a move. Expired makeup is not just less effective — it can irritate skin, cause breakouts, and in the case of eye products, lead to infections. This guide explains how long each product really lasts, how to read the symbols on the packaging, and how to decide what stays and what goes.

Why Makeup Expires

Makeup expires for two reasons, and both matter. The first is microbial: every time a brush, sponge, or fingertip touches a product, it introduces bacteria, and every time a product is exposed to air, moisture, and warmth, those bacteria have a chance to grow. Preservatives slow that growth, but they degrade over time, and once they weaken, the product becomes a better home for microbes than it was when it was new. The second reason is chemical: oils go rancid, pigments separate, textures change, and active ingredients lose potency. A foundation that has separated into layers, a lipstick that smells like crayons and old oil, a powder that has gone hard and shiny on the surface — these are not cosmetic quirks. They are signs that the product has changed in ways that make it less safe and less effective.

The risk is not equal across all products. Anything used near the eyes carries the highest risk, because the eyes are vulnerable to infection and because eye products are applied to a warm, moist area where bacteria thrive. Anything liquid or creamy carries more risk than anything powdery, because water supports bacterial growth and powders do not. And anything applied with a tool that goes back into the container — a mascara wand, a doe-foot lip applicator — carries more risk than a product applied with a clean brush or a freshly washed finger.

How Long Each Product Lasts After Opening

The most useful date on a makeup product is usually not a printed expiration date but the Period After Opening symbol, known as PAO. It looks like a small open jar with a number and the letter M inside — 6M, 12M, 24M — and it tells you how many months the product is intended to last after you first open it. The number is set by the manufacturer based on stability and preservative testing. It is a guideline, not a guarantee, but it is the best single piece of information on the package, and it is worth checking before you buy.

Unopened products last longer — typically two to three years for most makeup, stored in a cool, dry place — because the preservative system has not been challenged by use. But unopened does not mean immortal. A foundation that has sat unopened for four years in a warm bathroom is not the same product it was when it was made, and it should be checked for smell, color, and texture before use, just like an opened one.

Signs a Product Has Gone Bad

Your senses are a reliable expiry test. Smell is the most useful: a rancid, sour, or chemical smell that was not there when the product was new means the oils have degraded, and the product should be discarded. Texture is the second: foundation that has separated and will not remix, mascara that has gone clumpy or dry, lipstick that drags or feels gritty, powder that has developed a hard, shiny surface that a brush slides across without picking up color. Color is the third: a product that has changed color — foundation that has darkened or turned orange, lipstick that has faded or darkened unevenly — has changed chemically and should go.

Your skin is the final test, and it is the one to respect most. A product that suddenly stings, causes redness, or triggers breakouts when it never did before may have expired, or may have become contaminated. Stop using it. Do not try to salvage it, do not add water or oil to revive it, and do not use it on a different part of your face. The cost of replacing a product is a few dollars; the cost of an eye infection or a week of irritated skin is considerably more.

Eye Products Deserve Special Caution

Mascara is the product most worth replacing on schedule, and the one most people keep the longest. The three-month rule exists because the mascara wand is a near-perfect contamination system: it picks up bacteria from the lashes, carries them into the dark, moist tube, and returns them to the eye with every application. Eye infections linked to old mascara are well documented, and they are almost entirely preventable by replacing the tube every three months and never sharing mascara with anyone. If you have had an eye infection, discard all eye makeup used during the infection and start fresh once it has cleared.

Liquid eyeliner follows the same logic and a similar timeline of three to six months. Pencil eyeliners last longer because sharpening removes the outer layer, but the pencil should still be sharpened before each use and replaced after about two years. Eyeshadow, being a dry powder, is low risk and can last up to two years, but a powder that has been used with a damp brush — which introduces water into the pan — should be treated more cautiously and replaced sooner if it smells off or performs poorly.

How to Store Makeup So It Lasts

Storage matters more than most people realize. Heat, humidity, and light all accelerate the breakdown of makeup, which means the bathroom — warm, steamy, and often brightly lit — is one of the worst places to keep it. A cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is better: a bedroom drawer, a vanity away from the window, or a dedicated organizer in a room that does not steam up every morning. Keep lids tightly closed, because exposure to air speeds up both drying and contamination. Store products upright where possible, and keep brushes clean — dirty brushes transfer bacteria into products and onto skin, and they are one of the most common sources of contamination in a makeup bag.

Brush hygiene deserves its own note. Brushes used for liquid or cream products should be washed weekly; brushes used for powder products can be washed every two weeks. Use a gentle soap or a dedicated brush cleanser, rinse thoroughly, reshape the bristles, and lay the brushes flat or hang them bristle-down to dry. Never dry a brush upright in a cup while it is wet, because water seeps into the ferrule and loosens the glue. Clean sponges should be washed after every use and replaced every one to three months, depending on how often they are used — a sponge that smells musty or has torn is past its life.

A Practical Declutter Method

Sorting an old makeup collection is easier with a system. Take everything out, group it by category, and work through each group with three questions. First, when did I open this? If you cannot remember, and the product is a liquid or cream, it is probably past its life. Write the opening date on new products with a small sticker or a permanent marker — it takes five seconds and removes all future guessing. Second, does it still smell, look, and feel like it did when it was new? Any change in smell, color, or texture is a reason to discard it. Third, have I used it in the last six months? A product you have not reached for in half a year is unlikely to become a favorite, and keeping it only means it will be even older when you finally throw it away.

There is no need to feel guilty about discarding old makeup. It served its purpose, and keeping it does not save money — it risks your skin and your eyes for the sake of a product you were not using. Replace the essentials on schedule, keep what you genuinely use and love, and let the rest go.

Your Makeup Expiry Checklist

• Replace mascara every 3 months and liquid eyeliner every 3–6 months; never share eye products
• Check the PAO symbol (the open-jar number) when you open a new product, and write the date on it
• Discard any product that smells rancid, has separated, changed color, or changed texture
• Stop using any product that suddenly stings, reddens, or breaks you out
• Store makeup in a cool, dry place away from sunlight — not in a steamy bathroom if you can avoid it
• Wash brushes weekly for liquids and creams, every two weeks for powders
• Replace makeup sponges every 1–3 months, and discard any that smell musty or have torn
• After an eye infection, discard all eye makeup used during the infection

Makeup expiry is not a marketing trick to make you buy more. It is a straightforward matter of chemistry and microbiology, and the timelines are generous enough that following them costs little. Replace the eye products on schedule, trust your senses on everything else, store your products well, and the makeup you keep will be the makeup that is safe to wear.

About the author

Alex Carter is the founder and editor of Glow Ledger. He researches beauty products by reading ingredient lists, comparing formulations across price ranges, and checking brand claims against published dermatology guidance before writing a word. He accepts no payment from brands for coverage. Read more on the About page.

Editorial note: This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, persistent irritation, or a reaction to a product, stop using it and consult a dermatologist. Prices mentioned are typical ranges as of November 2026 and vary by retailer.

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