As a general rule, liquid and cream products such as foundation, concealer, blusher, bronzer, eye shadow and highlighters: up to one year
All powder products including loose, pressed, blush and mineral, contour, highlighter, bronzer and eye shadow: up to two years
Mascara and any liquid eyeliners and gels: less than six months
Pencils for eyes, lips, skin and lips: up to three years
Lipstick in bullets, lip colours in pots and tubes, lip gloss: up to two years
Natural, organic and other products that do not have preservatives will breakdown from bacteria much quickly and as with any product, respect the shelf life.
Remember, SAFE BEAUTY practice requires the use of disposable and single use mascara wands, brushes and applicators and no double dipping.
This is what we recommend:-
- Concealer: up to 12 months
- Powder: 2 years
- Cream and gel cleansers: 1 year
- Pencils (concealer, eye liner, eye shadow, lip, camouflage etc): must be sharpened before using on a new client and before putting back in a pro kit to avoid any germs remaining on the pencil. Up to 3 years.
- Eye shadow: will also last up to 3 years. Extra tip: A dark eye shadow can double as eyeliner, in fact, most makeup artists swear by eye shadow used as eyeliner.
- Foundation: check the ingredients. A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil and silicone-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation each year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter.
Push up lip and eye liners: up to 3 years. As you can’t use a pencil sharpener on these products, as a professional makeup artist, it’s best not to have these in our kit. However, if you do have some favourite push up pencils, then you must use a good alcohol sanitizing wipe between clients.
- Lip stick: some experts say 1-2 years. Others say up to 4 years. What everyone agrees on is that if it smells rancid, throw it out, it's spoiled. If you store lipstick in the refrigerator, it will last longer. As a professional makeup artist, this is not going to happen, but when you are travelling or living in hot climates and your have your favourite lip stick with you, pop it in the fridge every day or so to keep it in good condition.
- Mascara: this product expires the fastest and as a professional makeup artist you know that it will be a product that is used for every makeover, every day, so you probably use up this product much faster than you would for your personal makeup. Remember to use disposable mascara wands and never double dip. 3 to 6 months.
- Nail Polish: up to 24 months depending on how much you use it.
