Many of us wear mascara every day — or at least every time we leave the house — so, it’s worth asking: how often should you really change your makeup?
When was the last time you changed your mascara, or cleaned your makeup brushes?
Trust me, I’m not perfect either. The demands of work and social obligations mean these tasks are rarely high on my agenda.
Let’s reframe this. We wouldn’t go six months without changing our bed sheets, or eat food well past the expiration date, so it’s important to think of the products we put on our body in the same way.
But makeup products don’t usually come with a ‘best before date’, so it can be difficult to decide when it’s time for a refresh. Plus, no one really wants to buy a new product before they’ve emptied their current one — us included.
But experts suggest that waiting until you’ve finished your mascara may be a bad habit we need to kick. Here, we reveal everything you need to know.
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How often should mascara be changed?
Contrary to what we thought, most cosmetic products do have a ‘Period After Opening (PAO)’ notice.
“This little icon on the product will have a number on it like 6M (six months) or 12M (12 months), which indicates how long you should keep it after opening,” says Nima Pourian, founder of UKLash.
For mascara, however, Nima explains that bacteria can build up much more quickly than it does for other products, as it’s applied directly into the eyes. So, it should be replaced every three to six months.
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What happens if I use an expired mascara?
Using expired makeup is something that many of us are guilty of without realising. But the consequences to your health can be serious.
Dr Ross Perry, the medical director at Cosmedics Skin Clinics, explains: “Eye cosmetics create a moist environment that can harbour bacteria, increasing the risk of eye irritation or infection.”
He adds those who have sensitive eyes or pre-existing eye conditions should replace their mascara monthly. If you have any kind of eye infection or stye, throw the mascara away immediately.
And when it comes to reviving an old mascara, just don’t.
There are various beauty hack videos and creators who show adding water to dried out mascara, but doing so can introduce new bacteria to the product, compromising its safety.
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How to keep track of your products
If you’re anything like me, it might be worth utilising a tracking method to ensure that you don’t forget to switch up your products.
Some brands like UKLash allow a product subscription to be set up, so you can have new mascara automatically delivered every three months — with no need to add in any reminders for yourself.
A lifehack to otherwise stay organised is to add an event in your calendar when you need to replace a product. For example, if you open a mascara today, add an event or alarm in three months’ time to remind you to purchase a new one.
Feature image: Unsplash
