Your favorite 3-year-old lipgloss still smells and looks okay, should you be ditching it anyway? Run your makeup inventory against our cosmetics expiry guide to see whether you ought to be trashing them instead of using them on your face.

Cosmetics expiry checklist

Always check the use-by labels on your cosmetics. Don't see any? Use this checklist below as a general guide:

Makeup Item	Use Within
Blusher (cream)	12 months
Blusher (powder)	2 years
Concealer	12 months
Eye Liner	2 years
Eyeshadow (cream)	12 months
Eyeshadow (powder)	2 years
Face Powder	2 years
Foundation (oil-based)	18 months
Foundation (water-based)	12 months
Fragrance	18 months
Lip Liner	2 years
Lipgloss	18 months
Lipstick	2 years
Mascara	3 months
Moisturizer	3 months
Nail Poilsh	12 months

Prolonging shelf life

In a hot and humid climate like ours, it is always wise to keep your cosmetics and skincare products away from direct sunlight.

Also, wash your makeup sponges and brushes weekly with warm soap water, and leave them to dry naturally. Do not add water into drying mascara: it won't work, and you're just introducing more bacteria into the tube. Sharpen your eye liner and lip liner pencils regularly to get rid of the bacteria growth on the tips. And if your compact powder case is broken or has cracked, get a new one.