Face cream, mascara, and a bit of blush. How many beauty products do you actually use to start your day? We delve into the shelf life of make-up and skincare products. How long do products like foundation and lipstick actually stay good for? And how do you store them cleverly, so you have to throw away as little as possible?
Storage tips for beauty products
You can of course search endlessly for a more sustainable beauty brand – although, we have already drawn up a lovely list of beauty brands for you – but there’s also something you have control over yourself. The better you handle your beauty products, the longer they will last. And that is perhaps the easiest way to prevent waste. It’s a shame if your foundation dries out, your mascara is already too old or your favourite lipstick has to be thrown away while there’s still plenty left in it. Fortunately, most beauty products already give you a helpful indication. On virtually every package there is an icon of an opened jar with a number and the letter M. This indicates how many months a product is good for after opening. Mascara usually stays good for six to twelve months. Foundation and nail polish often last one to two years and eyeshadow, eyeliner pencil and lipstick even around two years.
The shelf life is a guideline. How long a product really stays good also depends on how you store it. If you store makeup in a warm, humid bathroom or often leave jars and tubes open, products can deteriorate faster. With a few simple habits, you can make your creams and lotions last longer. And that's not just good for the environment…
Where are cosmetics like make-up best stored?
The bathroom may seem like the logical place for your makeup and skincare products, but it's actually one of the worst. Hot showers cause constant fluctuations in temperature and humidity, which can make products spoil faster and encourage the growth of bacteria and mould. It's better to store makeup in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. A drawer or makeup table in your bedroom is often a much better option. This way, your products will last longer and you won't need to replace them as often.
On each package is the shelf life icon, see above thumb.
Storage tips for your favourite beauty products
Now that you know where to best store your make-up and skincare products, it's time to zoom in on the products themselves. Not every beauty product has the same shelf life, after all. What's more, with a few simple tricks, you can often extend its lifespan. Here are the most important storage tips per product.
Day, night and eye cream
Most creams remain good for six to twelve months after opening. It is best to use a clean spatula instead of your fingers. This prevents bacteria from entering the pot. However, clean the spatula regularly.
Mascara and eyeliner
Mascara and liquid eyeliner usually last for six to twelve months. Your eyes are sensitive to bacteria, so replace old mascara on time. Furthermore, do not pump the brush up and down in the container. This lets air into the mascara and causes it to dry out faster. You can still use clumpy mascara for a while by making it liquid by placing the mascara in a cup of warm water for a few minutes. You can also add a drop of contact lens solution or eye makeup remover milk to make a mascara that is almost empty a bit smoother again.
Eyeshadow and eyeliner
Eyeshadow and eyeliner usually last for about two years. Sharpen your eyeliner regularly. This removes the used layer straight away and keeps the pencil more hygienic. Store eyeshadow in a dry place and close the case properly after use. Has your eyeshadow broken? It’s annoying, but you can often repair it easily. Crumble the eyeshadow into a fine powder, add a few drops of alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) and press the powder firmly back into the palette. Then leave the eyeshadow to dry thoroughly before using it again.
Blusher and face powder
Powder products, such as blush and bronzer, often have a shelf life of about two years. Store them in a dry place and clean your brushes regularly. Dirty brushes transfer bacteria to your make-up and your skin. Cleaning tip: make-up brushes and sponges are best cleaned regularly with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
Foundation and concealer
Foundation and concealer usually remain good for one to two years, depending on the formula. Oil-based products often last a little longer than water-based products. Apply this make-up with clean hands or a clean sponge.
Make-up remover and face cleanser
Most cleaning products have a shelf life of approximately twelve months after opening. Seal the packaging properly after use and store it in a cool, dry place. As a nice addition to your cleaning ritual, you can opt for washable cotton pads made from organic cotton or bamboo. Saves a lot of waste!
Lipstick and lip balm
Lipstick and lip balm usually remain good for about two years. If they smell or look different than usual, it's wise to replace them. Do you have a lipstick in a colour you don't like? You can probably still use it perfectly well as blush. Put a few dots on your cheek, rub it in a bit. And there we have it!
Also interesting: Handy makeup hacks.
Nail polish
Nail polish usually stays good for one to two years. Regularly clean the neck of the bottle with a little nail polish remover. This ensures the cap seals better and the polish dries out less quickly. It's best to store nail polish in a cool, dark place. Opinions are divided, by the way, on the best storage trick for nail polish. Some swear by the fridge, others say you shouldn't do this. thegreenlist.nl We have good experience storing it in the fridge; in our experience, it stays good and liquid for longer when stored there.
Enjoy your beauty products for longer
You don't need to immediately replace all your beauty products with a more sustainable alternative to make a difference. By being more mindful of what you already have, you can also prevent waste. Store products in the right place, close packaging properly, and pay attention to the expiry date. This way, they will last longer and you won't have to buy new products as often. When you do need a new product, you can then look for a more sustainable brand. But the first step is perhaps the easiest: use what you have for as long as possible. This is good for your wallet and also a lot kinder to the environment.
More sustainable beauty tips from thegreenlist.nl
- Also see: Sustainable care: why the claim ‘natural’ does not always mean something
- Also see: what is mascara made of and how do you find sustainable mascara?
- Also see: what is the difference between vegan and cruelty-free?
Sources: Milieu Centraal, Green Guide, The Skin Institute. Photo credits: Pexels, thegreenlist.nl.
