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Can Your Makeup Make You Sick?

A new survey of 3,000 women found that 70 percent said they would not want to be seen by their work colleagues or bosses without their hair and makeup done.¹ In fact, women in the United States spend more than $8 billion on cosmetics every year. So it stands to reason that you may be a little reluctant to throw away half-full bottles of mascara or an almost-full eye shadow.

But experts say outdated makeup could make you sick. “Most women do have a drawer full of cosmetics that have been partially used,” says Angela Bowers, M.D., dermatologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.

Since cosmetics usually don’t include expiration dates, it’s difficult to know when to discard them. But experts say you should start keeping track from the day you first open the makeup.

Mascara and eye liner last the least amount of time and should be thrown away after only three months. That’s because bacteria can get in there, and the preservatives might not be working quite as well as they were when you first opened it.

“If you get some of that in your eye, you may develop conjunctivitis, which we know as ‘pink eye.’” explains Dr. Bowers. Plus, outdated cosmetics can cause breakouts and lead to more serious skin problems.

To help you keep track of the lifespan of your cosmetics, here are some expiration dates you should keep in mind:

  • Powders and shadows: 2 years
  • Cream shadows: 12 to 18 months
  • Liquid foundation: 1 year
  • Lipstick and lip liner: 1 year
  • Mascara and eyeliners: 3 months
  • Makeup brushes: clean weekly using a mild detergent. I like Dawn dishwashing liquid for getting the oils out.
  • Makeup sponges: replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled.

Have a Youthful Day,

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Jackie Silver

¹http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2116980/Going-make-free-stressful-job-interview.html

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