Beauty Product Expiration Dates

Most every woman you know, has a drawer, or two, full of makeup she doesn't use or only "sometimes" uses. She might be hoarding it all until she learns the proper techniques in applying the various products. The problem with this is that beauty products all have expiration dates. Companies put these dates on products to decrease the risk of harboring germs.

Here are a couple of guidelines for you to keep in mind:

Concealer - Shelf life of 12 months

Brushes - Wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent

Sponges - Wash weekly and discard monthly

Foundation - check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation eat year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter.

Mascara - This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in and out--you're only exposing the product to drying air.

Cheek Blush - 1 year shelf life

Sunscreen - 2 year shelf life

Liquid Foundation - Replace every 3-6 months

Eye and Lip Pencils - Shelf life of 1 year