Alice Vol. 3 No. 2

LIP AND EYE PRODUCTS
Unlike facial products, lip and eye products have a
pretty short shelf life. This is due to direct contact with
your eyes and mouth, which encourages the growth
of bacteria. These products also become much more
dangerous to use once contaminated or past its shelf
life. Bacteria and the over-use of products can lead to
styes, pink eye and even cold sores.
LIP GLOSS, LIP LINER, AND LIP LINER: 1 YEAR
Lipsticks, glosses and liners are some of the most
long-lasting lip and eye products. These products do
not contain water, so they are less likely to grow bacteria.
Keep that cool, dry storage theme in mind when
shelving them. Be on the lookout for changes in the
texture of your lip products, as this is a sign that it’s
nearing the end of its shelf life. Glosses can generally
last a bit longer than lipsticks, sometimes up to 24
months. However, it is often a good idea to cycle your
lip products each year to protect your lips and mouth
from any bacteria they may be holding.
PENCIL EYELINER: 2 YEARS
Pencil eyeliner has a rather impressive shelf life of up
to 2 years. This is a result of the constant sharpening
required to maintain pencil eyeliner. Frequent sharpening
presents the user with a fresh bit of product
upon each application, therefore decreasing chances
of bacteria entering and then growing in the eye.
LIQUID GEL EYELINER: 3 MONTHS
Much unlike pencil eyeliner, liquid and gel versions of
the product only are safe to use for about 3 months.
Since a gel or liquid product cannot be sharpened, the
same surface is repeatedly coming into contact with
your eye and transferring bacteria. It is most effective
to toss these products and find a replacement fairly
frequently.
MASCARA: 3 MONTHS
Similar to liquid and gel liners, mascara won’t last
much time compared to other products. Mascara, just
like other eye products, is coming in constant contact
with your eye directly, and your application tool cannot
be cleaned or renewed. For these reasons, bacterial
growth on mascara is a real concern. To prevent eye
infections, redness and itchiness, replace your mascara
about every 3 months.
POWDER EYE SHADOW: 3-6 MONTHS
Although, initially it seems that this should be
lumped in with our other various powders, eyeshadow
is a bit different. Eyeshadows are constantly
applied to the eyes. For some users, old
eyeshadow may cause no issues whatsoever, but
other users may experience infections and itchy,
puffy eyes. For these reasons, it’s best to hunt
down new eyeshadow about every 3-6 months.
However, if your eyes begin to itch or turn red,
toss your current eyeshadow ASAP and search for
an alternative.
Spring brings about cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning, so it’s only natural that we should factor a
makeup cleanse into this time. It’s hard not to stash that one lip gloss in the back of your drawer that
you use once a year, but bacteria in your expired products can open up a whole new world of problems
that makeup can’t fix. Make sure to check the shelf life symbol on your products when you break that
packaging open for the first time, and keep it in mind when you’re in the market for new makeup.
Alice Spring 2018 11