Ask an expert: When is it time to toss your makeup?

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With the changes in season, the time has come to start spring cleaning (both indoors and outdoors) and there’s no better place to start than with your makeup bag. It’s a small enough task that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed, but still an important one that will leave you feeling accomplished once it’s crossed off your list.

When it comes to makeup and skincare, it’s especially important to regularly go through your collection to remove anything that has expired or gone bad. The transition from winter to spring is an excellent time to get rid of anything that’s gone off, as well as make the switch from heavier formulas to gentler, lighter ones that are more appropriate for the season.

ALSO SEE: 5 easy ways to stay healthy without leaving your home

To find out more about hot to start decluttering your makeup bag, we chatted with L’Oréal Paris makeup artist and expert, Jodi Urichuk to get her top tips on when to ditch your makeup and skincare for good.

When it comes to keeping your makeup in good condition, Urichuk is adamant that it’s not the expiry date that’s the be-all and end-all of indicators: “I don’t want people to think that they have to just toss everything because [of it]!” she says.

Instead, she recommends keeping everything in a cool, dry place, which will help extend the longevity of your makeup and skincare. Rather than storing it in the bathroom, where most people might think to keep their products, she suggests storing it in the basement or other similar cool places.

“First of all, there’s all the bacteria in the bathroom,” Urichuk says. “And all the moisture, it basically will help speed up the process of mold growing on things.”

If you don’t have any other storage space and need to keep everything in the bathroom, she recommends keeping products in clear, air-tight containers to block out excess moisture and protect against products going off.

With proper storage and temperature conditions, you may be able to get a little extra shelf life out of your favourite products, but once the texture and smell of your makeup starts to change, Urichuk says it’s time to let it go.

Using makeup that’s past its prime can have some serious consequences, and Urichuk advises against using anything that’s gone bad.

“It’s just not a wise choice, especially with eyes,” she says. “You could get really bad infections from that, so it’s just better to be safe than sorry.”

Scroll through to find out how long you should be keeping your makeup, and when you should really toss it.

Mascara

Recommended Shelf Life: 2-3 months

When to toss: “As soon as it starts flaking and it’s super dry. You can smell the difference, too - usually mascara has a rosewater kind of scent. That smell goes away and it almost smells like chemicals. It’s a horrible thing.”

Foundation

Recommended Shelf Life: 6 months-1 year (but if in a bottle that is sealed it can last up to 2 years)

When to toss: “[If it] separates or smells. You’ll be able to see the difference in the bottle first and foremost. When you pump it out, it’s not going to look the way it’s supposed to look on your hand.”

Lipsticks

Recommended Shelf Life: 1-2 years

When to toss: “You can tell when they turn [because] they smell rancid. If you’ve had them stored in a decent area with good temperature, they can last for a really long time. I’ve had lipsticks for a year and a half and they still smell like vanilla.”

Powders (Blush, Eyeshadow, Bronzer)

Recommended Shelf Life: 1-2 years

When to toss: “You can tell when they turn because they either have that kind of hard or darkened layer on top of them, or the pigment just doesn’t come onto your brush anymore.”

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