We all know the beauty of make-up. It can hide those tired-eyes, add a pinch of colour to your cheeks, or give you that extra kick of confidence before a big date. But how many of us are guilty of leaving the dregs of products lying in the bottom of our make-up bags? While we can usually tell by the PAO (Period After Opening) date stamped on the box, most people tend to discard of the packaging once they start using the make-up item regularly. Using make-up that has expired could lead to acne, eye infections, or even dermatological conditions for people with allergies and sensitive skin. Thankfully, there tends to be a standard shelf-life for most of our products. A list of the most common make-up items and their expiry dates include:

• Liquid Foundation/Concealer 12 – 18 months (a water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, while oil-based will last slightly longer – 18 months)
• Powders (blush, bronzer, foundation) 24 months
• Fragrance 3 – 5 years once kept out of direct sunlight
• Lipstick 12 – 18 months
• Pencil or Kohl eyeliner – 12 months
• Mascara – 3 months
• Liquid eyeliner – 3 months
• Cream blush and multiple sticks – 12 months
• Eyeshadow – 24 months
• Nail polish – 24 months

So how can you get your make-up to stand the test of time? Make-up artist tricks include dripping foundation onto the back of your hand rather than putting your fingers to the neck of the bottle to avoid bacteria, while keeping water content products like lipsticks and cream blushers in the fridge for the optimum temperature. It might be tempting to leave your bronzer open, but oxidation could ruin your cheek tint in no time. As for your favourite mascara, avoid pumping the wand and pushing more air into the container, which only dries out the formula. While we know our favourite items can’t last forever, we’re willing to try some little tips to save us our pennies for our next beauty splurge. H/T Red Magazine