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Spring Cleaning for Your Makeup Bag

Do your spring cleaning efforts include your makeup bag and vanity? If not, you should reconsider! Expired cosmetics can cause infections and skin irritations.

While most makeup does not include an expiration date on the packaging, there are some general guidelines to follow:

• Foundation: 1 year
• Powdered blush/eyeshadow/bronzers): 2 years
• Pencil eyeliner: 2 years
• Liquid eyeliner: 3 months (yes, really!)
• Mascara: 3 months
• Lip gloss: 2 years
• Lipstick: 1 year

And yes, we know you’re freaking out about the 3-month expiration on mascara and liquid eyeliner!

Not sure when you purchased something? There are some general signs that something is amiss – funky scent odd consistency or separation of liquid, and so on. You can also make it easy on yourself by using a Sharpie to put the purchase date on your products when you add them to your makeup bag.

And don’t forget your makeup brushes! Doing so will prevent spreading bacteria that can lead to serious acne concerns if left unchecked. While you can purchase makeup brush cleaning solutions at most beauty stores, you can also use a few drops of gentle shampoo to remove built-up makeup from your brushes. Makeup sponges and blenders should ideally be washed after each use to prevent the spread of germs. Be sure to completely rinse your cleaning solution off of the sponge before setting aside to air dry.