How religiously do you follow expiry dates for your various cosmetics?

[VladmirsPoutine]

I'm rooting through my make-up bag at the moment and it seems pretty much everything bar a lipstick I bought last week will need binning. It's taken me bloody forever to find decent products - right colour - right coverage - at quite a cost so I'm reluctant to part with it all.

No 7 used to do a fantastic tinted moisturiser, my HG. Obviously they discontinued it.

They sold it in the US (in Target) for a good while after the UK demised it. When I was in US I went out of my way to find a Target and bought 6 tubes back. That was 10 years ago and I am just coming to the end of my stash.

Same company, Boots - they used to do a chamomile shampoo in the Natural Collection range. My dark blonde hair loved it, sparkly natural highlights. Obviously they discontinued it. I bought a gazillion bottles on eBay over 10 years ago. 2 bottles left. It's still fine.

Powders, some of them I have had for years. Fine.

Only if it smells funky do I bin. (Contrary to food, even if it's a minute over the sell by, it's gone). Only exceptions are nail polish and mascara (gloopy or dried up) and SPF (apart from Ultrasun which lasts 2 years post opening).

No i don't think its necessary. I wash my brushes often and I've never had a skin condition

I have a good root through every few months. The amount of bacteria that grows on make up is disgusting.

Saying that though, if you clean your brushes regularly you should be able to get away with it for a little bit longer, I'd imagine? If you dont have sensitive skin?

I relish buying new make up so throwing it out doesn't phase me so much 😂😂

Qu for those who do check, how do you remember when you opened something?! I wouldn’t have a clue at all when I starting using my mascara etc. Do you write it down?!

Rooftree

For mascaras I stick a sticker on the side. I don’t do it with anything else but I’m prone to eye problems and a bit overly cautious.

Mascara gets replaced but I only use one particular brand/formula, so by the 6 months of use, it's pretty much dried up and used up anyway.

Sun cream, I get a new bottle every year, as I've been told it's less effective when it has been open a while, especially if you've been abroad or it's been heated up by a warm summer. I burn like crazy, so I don't chance it.

Everything else lasts until it smells funky or the texture changes. I do however use brushes or cotton buds to get product out of containers, never ever touch them with my fingers and the brushes are cleaned every single time they're used. Never had a problem. It would be different if I developed an infection such as a stye, or conjunctivitis - everything I'd used as it developed would be binned in that case.

I completely ignore them. Like I do with food - if it looks and smells ok I use it.

I clean brushes and applicators once in a blue moon. I don’t keep sunblock for more than a season, I sanitise before lending things and after getting them back (adult daughters are always raiding my bathroom) but apart from that I just keep using my senses and common sense and have had no problems.

Never look. I only wear makeup rarely, maybe 3-4 times a year so it would be hugely wasteful to throw it out barely used.

I change my mascara every three months and buy new sunscreen every year plus i keep brushes and sponges scrupulously clean which probably helps. Other than that, I would characterise my make up as “venerable”. Makes no sense when I think about it. I chuck mascara because of the risk of eye infection, but I have eye shadow that is easily ten years old.

Also top tip is to keep nail polish in the fridge to stop it going gloopy or thick. I have a rouge noire that I can specifically date to 1999 which is still going strong. And my nails are fine!

Nope, you can tell if things have gone off (change in smell/texture.) I've had a Revlon lipstick on the go for nine and a half years! I think things like mascara and liquid eyeliners are a definite 'throw out after six months' but other things I've only thrown out if they smell or feel iffy. Lipsticks/lip-balms are easy to tell, if they start smelling like old crayons or feel like rubber when you apply them, then in the bin they go.

I didn’t even know cosmetics had expiry dates. I recently had eye surgery and binned and replaced my mascaras and I buy new sun protection every summer, otherwise I use stuff until it’s finished.

I ignore them too, but brushes and applicators are kept very clean. I have powder cosmetics, like blushers, that are 20 years old.

And still used.

Wait, cosmetics have expiry dates!?

I have blusher that must be 20 years old. I rarely wear make up.

Erm never! Apart from sunscreen.

I still have some Chanel and Laura Mercier make up from my wedding. I got married in 2005!

I have a BodyShop lipliner in 'Beech' that pre-dates my wedding in 1995 . My excuse is I sharpen off the manky bit and reveal fresh new bit ( well as fresh/new as a nearly 25yo lip pencil can be )

Never

70 That is hardcore! I am in awe. I have some 17 lipsticks I've had since I was 17 (funnily enough.) I don't know if they're still usable though, I just don't want to get rid of them. I've had them for 13 1/2 years!

I have blusher, loose powder and eye shadow from my wedding in 1986 I got rid of the lipstick last year because it no longer smeared. I still use the powder and blusher.

That stuff's older than I am! I was born in 1988!

I think you might win the thread for oldest make-up, unless someone else comes along.