Myisha Nawar
We have the tendency of holding onto old makeup like we hold onto old clothes, clinging to the hope that we will wear them again. Quality makeup (high end or drugstore) isn’t cheap so it can be admittedly hard to discard them. However, unlike old clothing, old makeup poses serious risks to our health. We need to learn to accept that just like food, makeup only lasts so long.
In a new study conducted by London Metropolitan University, five beauty products were tested by Dr. Paul Matewele. The products were all from high end brands just past their expiration date. The results were nothing short of shocking!
“All the old make-up products of foundation, lip gloss and lipstick tested positive for Enterococcus faecalis under strict laboratory tests,” said Matewele.
“Enterococcus faecalis is the potentially deadly strain of bacteria which causes meningitis and Septicaemia and is one of the biggest killers for newborn babies.”
Even though most makeup products are packed with preservatives to prevent bacterial growth and prolong the shelf life, expired products may contain lethal bacteria, including but not limited to ubacterium (causes bacterial vaginosis) and propionibacterium (causes acne and other skin conditions). So make sure you keep an eye on the expiration date.
Some products will not have an expiration date printed on them. Let me help you out with that. The list below outlines when you need to trash certain products.
•Mascara: 3 months
•Liquid liner: 3 months
•Foundation: 12 to 18 months
•Powders: 24 months
•Nail Polish: 24 months
•Fragrance: 3 to 5 years
You could do what I do and keep a diary where you log the purchase date of your product and then write down the probable expiry date, assuming that the salesperson isn’t selling an already expired product. It is a much better idea to pre-order makeup from pages like The Beauty Vault.
Yes you have to wait about three weeks before you get your hands on your new baby but this way you are sure that your product is relatively new. Banglashoppers and The Mall are trustworthy too. Priyo or Almas stock a lot of old, unsold products so be careful with them.