The Shelf Life And Death of Beauty Products: How Long Should You Keep Your Makeup?

If you just can’t decide when and if to part with your favorite lipstick, or that fabulous mascara that turns heads everywhere you go, it’s good to keep in mind that using makeup for longer than it’s intended to last might lead to serious health problems and can even take a toll on your look (the opposite from what you’re trying to get) like: eye infection, conjunctivitis, acne, cold sores and rashes.

Of course your question is “When should I throw my makeup away, then?”

We have good news and bad news. The bad news is there is no universal answer to this. It all depends on multiple factors such as: the formula, consistency, brand and area for which the product is for. The good news is, we, at Vivien Kondor have put together a little guide for you, so you don’t have to spend half a day checking the expiration date on each and every cosmetic product you own.

It’s good to bear in mind that all cosmetics should be stored in a cool, dry, place and as soon as they get dry, develop a funny smell or the texture changes it’s time to toss them.

Mascara & Liquid Eyeliner

By far the biggest offender on this list, mascara and liquid eyeliners have a life span of only 3 months at best. Every time you dip the wand into the tube you’re letting bacteria in, be it from air or your eyes.

If it starts drying out sooner than 3 months, do not under any circumstances try to add water or worse, saliva to it. The bazillion of eye infections you could get by doing that is just not worth it.

Liquid Foundation, Cream Eyeshadows, Cream Blush and Generally, Cream Everything

While in the store, it can last for well above 2 years, but once you pop that cap off, you’ve got between 6 and 12 months to use it. Keep away from hit and humidity, and watch for any change in texture or smell.

Keeping it longer than that might give you rashes or breakouts.

Face Powder & Blush

Not being water based, gives these products up to 2 years expectancy. Just watch out for any change in smell or color. Also if the texture becomes so hard, that you can barely get some on your brush or sponge, it’s time to replace it.

Oh, and while at it remember to change or clean the sponges and brushes on a constant base.

 

 

Powder Eyeshadow

Though similar in composition to blush and face powder, its proximity to the sensitive eye membrane, makes it not safe to use for more than 3-4 months.

Lipstick

Not containing any water, the number one item in any lady’s purse, the lipstick, can be kept for more than a year.

Signs that it might be time to replace it are: dryness and stale cooking oil smell.

Nail Polish

We might have a winner here! Nail polish never goes bad from bacteria. It does sometimes happen, however, to become all dry and clumpy and then it needs replacing.

The handiest tip regarding nail polish, that we can share with you is: keep it in the fridge to preserve it longer and shake the bottle thoroughly before each use.

Did we leave anything out?

Let us know in the comment section below.

Social Media: something to think about

Social media has become a huge part of daily life, with some even forming careers from it. Advertisers target those with a large social media following, and there is even a luxury hotel in Sweden that offers free accommodation to those who have followers in their thousands – so long as they post updates of their stay onto their account(s).

Image source: Women Outside The Box

It is no wonder that something so huge and influential is the cause of so much controversy. Internet bullying has been fueled single-handedly by social media and internet chat-rooms, and the term ‘trolling’ didn't even exist until recently. It seems that being able to hide behind a protective profile that can quite easily mask who you are and where you’re posting from can encourage people to speak out in a way they wouldn't dream of if they were in a face-to-face situation. You don’t necessarily have to deal with the consequences of your actions online as you would out in the real world.

It can be very easy sometimes to surround yourself with negative opinions of social media. To simultaneously scroll through your Facebook newsfeed whilst claiming that you ‘hate Facebook’ or that your newsfeed is ‘full of rubbish’ is the norm nowadays. Social medic has found itself labelled with a very bad reputation.

That being said, social media was made to allow us – as individuals, brands, musicians, bloggers or whoever we are choosing to be (social media gives us that choice if we want it)  - to have a page/profile/account that is completely our own. A place to market ourselves and our brands in any way we see fit, without any external interference. It is entitlement to freedom of speech at its very best.

How often is it today that we are able to produce something solely based on our own desires? Without the way that somebody else wants it to be, time, money or one hundred other obstacles standing in our way. On our social media sites, we have complete control to shape it and come across however we want too. There is always the danger of being misunderstood or of causing offense with your views and opinions, and of course there are rules and regulations that control the nature of the content we are posting, but in terms of our own choices, there is nobody stopping us from posting whatever it is we want to post.

That control, that freedom, at this time, is something that is massively under-rated and unappreciated.

It seems a huge shame that due to some peoples misuse if what should be an incredible tool social media faces daily ridicule and scrutiny. However every now and again when you feel so exhausted with social media you find yourself hovering over the ‘delete account’ button, it is never a bad idea to take some time to remember what an amazing and important platform social media is, and how much more positively we would feel about it if we only treated it with a little more of the respect that it deserves.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Until next time, 

The Vivien Kondor Team