Makeup and Eye Health – What you need to know about Expiration Dates!

How old is your make up? If you wear contact lenses, when was the last time you checked the expiration date of your contact supplies? If these questions made you stop and think, it was probably too long ago. Many women never waste a second thought about the fact that make up or contact lens supplies could expire.  They wait until supplies run out and then buy what they need. Many women like variety (or so I've been told) and stockpile different colored eye shadows, eye liners, mascaras, blush, lipstick, lip gloss, creams.  But did you know old makeup, contacts and solutions can cause serious infections?

There are a lot of things that can be used past the “fresh-date”, but for your eye health, as an ophthalmologist and LASIK surgeon, I advise against using outdated contacts and makeup. Why? Because infections and even corneal ulcers can occur with the use of outdated contacts and that is not something you want to deal with.  

Tips for Contact Lenses

• Clean the case regularly throughout the year with the contact solution you were given. Clean it thoroughly after every contact insertion.
• Let the case air dry after to prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Check the expiration date for the contact solution. Do not use after.
• Do not use old contact lenses. Make sure you have new ones ordered in time or have glasses to substitute the temporary loss of contact lenses.
• Do not wear your lenses longer than recommended by your doctor. There are a variety of different options available to fit your need.

Tips for Makeup

Unlike contact lenses and their cases, make up cannot be cleaned. It comes in contact with your face and eyes and is put back in its case or container. Here are some guidelines:

• Mascara should be replaced about every 3 months. If you had an infection like pink eye, throw your mascara away immediately and buy a new one. Do not use the new one until the infection is completely healed.
• Eye Shadow has a shelf life of about 2 years as long as it is powder based. Cream base shortens its life span to about 12 – 18 months.
• Foundation follows the same principle eye shadow has. About 2 years for powder and 12-18 months for cream base.
• Cream Blush should also be replaced no later than 18 months after the first use.
• Lipstick comes with a shelf life of up to a year but as with mascara, if you have an infection like herpes, throw away your lipstick, replace it and wait until the infection is completely healed.
• Lip Gloss has a slightly longer life span at 18 months, but needs to be replaced if you have an infection.
• Pencil liners can last about 2 years if they are regularly sharpened and have the lid put on immediately after use. In the case of an infection it is advised that it should be replaced as well.
• Gel liners however only have a life span of about 2 months because these formulas break down a lot faster and can contain a lot more bacteria.   
• Nail Polish depends on the type and quality. General rule of thumb, when it starts to separate it is time to get a new one.

There are a few things you can do to keep track of your makeups age and shelf life. A lot of makeup has a small symbol on the bottom part that includes m for month or y for year. If you see 12m that particular item has a shelf life of 12 months. To keep track of when the 12 months are over, take a piece of paper, write down the month and year it was opened, like 12/13 and tape it next to the shelf life date.

Another good rule to go by is if it looks, smells or feels funny, replace it. The more exposure to air makeup gets, the higher the chance of bacterial growth or even mold. Store your makeup in a cool and dry place to ensure its longevity. As a last tip to extend the life of your makeup, make sure you close the caps all the way! Often, in a rush the lid gets closed only half way which allows air to find its way inside and dries it out faster and can foster the growth of mold and bacteria.

Makeup and contacts are expensive but a doctor’s visit and medication can be much more expensive than regularly replacing your beauty products. And let’s not forget that serious infections can potentially cause scarring on your face or eyes.