by Barb Hopkins

Created on: April 10, 2009

Spring is a time for new beginnings, the perfect time to perform an annual purge and thorough cleaning of all makeup supplies. Ushering in spring with a supply of clean, fresh makeup will not only make you feel renewed but can also keep you healthy so you can enjoy the new season.

To spring clean your makeup supplies, begin by taking an inventory. Empty your makeup bag or container piece by piece onto a counter or table and separate each item into similar categories, for example, eyeliners together, powder shadows together, and so forth. Although makeup items do not come stamped with an expiration date, they do have only a certain life span. Keeping makeup past its expected life span can result in health issues for the user.

The main rule to remember when sorting through older makeup is that if you can't remember how long you have owned the item, throw it away. Otherwise, knowing the basic life spans of various makeup items will allow you to keep your makeup supplies, fresh and bacteria-free.

Foundation: Approximate life span, 9 to 12 months.

Whether you use a cream, compact, or liquid foundation, only keep it in your makeup bag for no more than a year. If you use a compact foundation, apply it with single-use sponges to help keep the makeup fresh. Make sure all creams and liquids are stored with their lids sealed tightly. Air can dry out the makeup.

Concealer: Approximate life span, 9 to 12 months.

Pan or stick concealers must be kept airtight when they are not in use or they will dry out, crack and become unusable. If a liquid concealer smells bad, with a sour odor or if it looks oily, then it should not be used. Using either single-use sponges or washable sponges will also extend the life of the concealer and keep germs at a minimum.

All eye makeup should be replaced, regardless of its age, after the user has suffered from any type of eye infection such as sties or pink eye.

Eye shadow: Approximate life span, 1 year.

Powdered eye shadows can last for almost two years, but as soon as they become crumbly, toss it. If the powder shadow begins to have a whitish or grey film over the color, it should also be thrown away. Cream or liquid eye shadows do not last as long, only about 10 to 12 months. Like any other liquid makeup, eye shadow should be thrown away if it begins to have an unpleasant odor or congeals. Using a cotton swab for creams and liquids will reduce the amount of bacteria that can transfer to the makeup from your face.

Eyeliner: Approximate life span, 1

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