So is all this advice to discard mascara etc after six months a money-making scheme or sensible?

[emkana]

I have ancient mascara and it doesn't seem to do me any harm...

[dexter73]

Same here emkana. I think it is a money-making scheme.

[limitedname]

once it is open, and has come into contact with you it is becoming a good environment for bacterial to grow. everytime you use it you increase the exposure to bacterial, and the longer you have it the more bacterial can grow in it. It is bacteria that can cause eye infections and problems. so to me keeping mascara replaced is essential as it reduces the chance of an eye infection and any possible complications that might arise from it.

So yes it makes sense to me and i dont consider it to be a money making scheme. the advice has been offer by opthomologists and not the mascara companies. What do they get out of if it was a money making scheme?

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I just use mine until it runs out. Wear contacts as well and have never had an infection.

I buy the cheapest mascara anyway - Collection 2000 or something. I am an extravagant so and so with make up hoiwever I loathe clumpy lash building mascara so buy the most basic one I can find.

[expatinscotland]

money-making scheme.

[moondog]

I wouldn't dream of throwing away something-anything-until it is all used up.

[paisleyleaf]

I hadn't even heard of the 6 month thing.
It does sound like a money spinner - like the shampoo twice thing they brought out.

[expatinscotland]

It's not like you're sharing the mascara with the cheerleading squad.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I would never listen to claims made my make up companies.

They are born liars. Buy this £20 mascara and your eyes will look like bambi! (note in microscopic font in the corner: lashes were enhaced in post production)

Boswellox.

I am sure the 'opthamologists' which are quoted in such claims are adequately recompensed by the make up companies to make these claims.

[TheCrackFox]

Money making scheme.

[moondog]

Quite.
Eye infections from 7 month old mascara.

M
Y

A
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S
E

[limitedname]

I think i saw a paper somewhere that showed the bacterial growth plates from makeup that had been open and used for a while. it was very very gross. cant remember where though. Having had my own bacterial growth experiements on sandwiches and the like, i am cautious. I think it is something that you either will or wont do and something you have to be convinced of other wise wont make sense.

[expatinscotland]

Have you ever seen a microscopic photo of bacteria on your own skin?

It's pretty gross, too.

But it probably won't kill you anymore than using 7-month-old mascara will likely give you an eye infection.

Mascara's other than the cheapo stuff is a rip off, too.

[GetOrfMoiLand]

My make up is probably riddled with botulism.

I don't care. My eyeshadows etc cost me a fortune. I am not throwing them away.

[expatinscotland]

I have powder eyeshadows I've been using for yonks.

Lippies and blushers, too.

If they get a hard layer on them just razor it off with a blade.

And pencils, just sharpen.

Nail varnish that's gloopy? Add a few drops of acetone varnish remover.

Don't throw it away! What a waste!

[bibbitybobbityhat]

God, I never throw anything away until every last scrap is used. Have never had an eye infection - or any other kind of skin infection come to think of it.

[limitedname]

With you on that expatin. I guess i am just a wimp and having had conjuctivitus once have no wish to get it again. and i draw the line at not knowing 1. when i bought it or 9 months which ever is sooner. I think it is the stuff that is over a year that is the biggest issue, particularly stuff over 18months.

Getorf eyeshadow is slightly different to mascara, they recommend 12-18months for that i think. its to do with proximity to eye or something.

[expatinscotland]

I dig lippies out of the tube when there is no more stick left and put them into one of those pill dispensers so I can use the rest with a brush.

[paisleyleaf]

12-18 months for powders.....
How do you know this stuff?

[limitedname]

I have a brain that remembers this sort of useless stuff plus i regularly out myself as an uber geek. Not sure i have bumped into you before though paisley and i have a new name at the mo so have re-earnt that. It was some scientific paper - i think it might have even been in the new scientist, else it is a composite of a telling off from doc and opticians plus something i saw on tv.
who knows now. that bit i dont remember - not useless enough

[paisleyleaf]

Ah, so you don't work on the make up counter then.

[limitedname]

hell no, you have to wear the stuff to sell it.

try this here wasnt where i saw it but most reliable i have found. still looking for the article i saw. this one is pretty rounded and suggests most problems are from incorrect application and reaction rather then bacterial, but it is cited as an occurance.

[SpeedyGonzalez]

Definitely money-making. I heard that sunscreen creams are effective as long as the oil and cream don't separate (that's the point at which they go off, apparently), so you don't need to replace them every year as advised. So I tried it - and I find they're just as effective at controlling my tan for at least two years.

I just bin my mascaras when they start to clog. No idea how long that takes, but I very rarely have eye infections, and I'm also very much still alive.

[limitedname]

I think it was something to do with this article but not the form it is here that i saw it in. I think part of the conclusion was that the antibacterial agent was fairly affective, as that if it wasnt present there would be significant bacterial growth in the first 7-28 days, however it is like putting food in the freezer - it doesnt stop bacterial growth it just inhibits it - ie it slows down so it takes longer to go off.

[limitedname]

the scientist puts fingures in ears and having conducted experiments on the effectiveness of UV protection over a period of time, scuttles off to her box to hide and pretend she didnt just read that!!!!!!

Taking risks with mascara is one thing, and i do it. sunscreen is something else.