Everything has an expiration date – food, furniture, and even makeup! Discarding expired items that aren’t food tends to be tricky, as furniture and makeup do not disintegrate easily. Especially makeup, as it has lots of chemical components that might be harmful to the environment when discarded.
Makeup could be expensive and it would be a waste to throw out unused products. However, according to dermatologists, it’s highly recommended to discard old and expired makeup to prevent contracting any infections from continuing to use them.
A table of makeup products’ lifespan (for reference):
| Makeup Product | Lifespan |
| Lipstick | Approx. 1 year |
| Foundation, Concealer & Primer | Approx. 24 months from opening |
| Blush | Approx. 2 years |
| Eyeshadow Palette | Approx. 2 years |
| Pencil Eyeliner | Approx. 1 Year |
| Liquid Eyeliner | 3 months |
| Mascara | Approx. 3 months |
| Makeup Brushes | Approx. 1 year (Depending on type) |
The question is – how do you discard makeup properly, and what do you do with unopened makeup? There are a few safe ways to discard old and expired makeup, and here are some tips to help you chuck your products out the proper way and keep the environment safe.
Check with manufacturers if they take back old makeup
Before throwing away your makeup for good, do check with the manufacturer on whether they take back old makeup from consumers. It saves you time and the environment as well.
Mason Jar Method
Open cosmetics that are no longer in use or have expired. Scoop the creams into the mason jar with a spoon. Over the jar, use a butter knife to break up any firm cosmetics, such as eye shadow. Also, squeeze any tube cosmetics into the jar. Remove as many creams and cosmetics as possible from their original jars and tubes. Cover the mason jar with the lid. Shut the lid as tightly as possible. Use duct tape to seal the lid all the way around. Duct tape prevents the lid from falling off.
Recycle Empty Containers at Beauty Stores
Check to see whether any local beauty store accepts empty containers. Many large cosmetics stores offer recycling programmes which allow you to drop off your empty makeup containers. Check your local beauty retailer’s website or store to see whether they offer this programme.
Send Your Empties To Buyback Programs
Send empty containers to a buyback programme, as the containers would be recycled. A few large makeup recycling programmes would gladly accept your empty containers for free. Register for a makeup recycling programme online and place your empty containers in a box with a shipping label. MAC cosmetics has the BACK 2 M·A·C program which encourages its consumers to recycle their MAC empties.
Donate To A Women’s Shelter
Donate unused cosmetics to women’s shelters in your area. If you have any unopened makeup that you don’t want any longer and it’s not more than 1 to 2 years old, see if your local women’s shelter accepts donations. Make certain that whatever you’re donating is clean and well-sealed. But if you aren’t sure if your old makeup is still useable or not, don’t donate.
Always remember to replace your makeup if you have had it for more than a year; and if it’s discoloured or has a bad odour. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to using makeup products that are older than your pets.
