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What's In Your Makeup Bag?

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By CLOE CABRERA | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

Is your foundation starting to remind you of motor oil? Is your mascara making you cry? Is your lipstick so old you need a caulking gun to apply it?

These could be signs you've been holding onto those cosmetics longer than you should.

All makeup has preservatives in it; that's what makes the products last, says Fran Fernandez, owner of Artistic Hair & Make-up in South Tampa. But those preservatives eventually break down — and heat makes them go bad even sooner. Anything over 85 degrees can destroy the preservatives and ruin the makeup.

Still, women tend to hang onto their favorites. Maybe it's frugality. Maybe they fear losing a lucky lip color forever ("I'll never find this Marilyn Monroe red again!"). Or perhaps they're holding out hope that bright-blue eye shadow will come back in style again.

Whatever the reason, it's probably time to edit the contents of your makeup bag. The things you count on to make you look better could harbor bacteria that can lead to eye infections, breakouts and more.

"We're pack rats," says Fernandez, who has worked in the beauty industry since 1972. "We love to hold on to things we think we can't ever find again." Women know the cosmetic companies change their shades with the seasons, which means favorites might not be around for long.

"You try to find something similar to your favorite color, but it's never the same," Fernandez says. "So we wind up with a collection of makeup in our drawer that we never toss out."

Here are some guidelines to help you assess your cosmetics.

Use Them Or Lose Them?

Liquid foundation

Shelf life — Up to two years

Expert advice — If foundation develops a "funny" or rancid odor, or begins to separate, toss it.

Cake and stick foundations

Shelf life — Two to three years

Expert advice — Look for texture changes. Some bubble up; some crack and get very dry when they're past their prime. If the makeup won't spread easily on your skin, it's time to throw it out. Store foundation at room temperature.

Lipstick

Shelf life — Up to three years

Expert advice — Kiss it goodbye if it dries out and won't slide easily on your lips; if it develops a heavy, matte feel that's uncomfortable; or if it has a strong, waxy smell. Keep lipsticks in the refrigerator to help them last longer.

Powder (pressed powder, blushes, eye shadow, etc.)

Shelf life — Up to three years

Expert advice — A powder compact will start to get an oil slick from contact with the oil on your face. Make sure to scrape the slick off before you apply the powder. Powder blushes last longer than cream blushes because they don't have oil in them. Powder eye shadows have the longest shelf life because you don't have oil glands on your eyelids to contaminate the product.

Mascara

Shelf life — Three months. No exceptions.

Expert advice — Mascara will begin to smell rancid after three months. Eye infections are easily spread by mascara. If you get an infection, stop using your eye products and throw them away. Don't pump the wand in and out of the mascara; it pumps air and bacteria into the tube and dries out the liquid. Instead, turn the handle like a screw, and you will get more mascara.

Lipstick pencils and eyeliner pencils

Shelf life — Indefinite; many can last several years

Expert advice — Each time you sharpen the pencil, you sanitize it. Clean your sharpener with alcohol each time you use it. If the texture of the pencil changes, or if it becomes difficult to apply, get rid of it.

Here are some additional tips to help your cosmetics last longer.

Organic cosmetics may degrade more quickly than regular brands because they have fewer preservatives.

Keep your cosmetics containers closed.

Always wash your hands before applying makeup.

Keep cosmetics in a cool, dry area. Don't leave them in your car.

Do not add water or saliva to a product. It introduces bacteria.

Don't share your makeup with anyone. It increases the risk of contamination.

If you want to test a product before buying it, use a new or unused applicator.

Keeping applicators clean will help makeup last longer. Replace powder puffs each month. Makeup brushes should be cleaned once a month if you use them on a daily basis.

Brushes made of nylon, squirrel and sable should be swished in Fantastic cleanser, rinsed and dried on a towel.

Expensive makeup brushes should be lightly misted with a special brush cleaner that is available at most makeup counters and then dusted on a wash cloth until all the makeup comes off.

Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656 or ccabrera@tampatrib.com.

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