How Long Does It Take for Makeup to Expire?

If you have a drawer full of half-used mascara, favorite lip colors, and palettes that survived more than one move, you are not alone. Makeup is easy to accumulate because each product is small, many shades are used only occasionally, and throwing away something that still contains product can feel wasteful.

However, makeup does not have to look moldy to be past its useful life. Once a cosmetic is opened, air, fingers, brushes, sponges, and repeated contact with the skin or eyes begin changing the product. Meanwhile, heat and bathroom humidity can weaken the formula or make contamination more likely. The result may be poor application, irritation, breakouts, or, in some cases, an eye or skin infection.

The practical question is not simply, “How old is this?” Instead, ask three questions: What type of product is it? How has it been used and stored? Has the formula, packaging, or your reaction to it changed? Those answers are more useful than a single expiration rule.

Quick Answer

Most opened makeup should be replaced within approximately 3 months to 2 years, depending on the formula and where it is used. Products used close to the eyes generally have the shortest useful lives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says manufacturers commonly recommend discarding mascara about 2 to 4 months after purchase, while the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises replacing eye makeup about every 3 months.

As a practical guide:

mascara: about 2 to 4 months

liquid or gel eyeliner: about 3 to 6 months

cream and liquid face products: commonly 6 to 12 months

lip gloss and other wand-applied lip products: commonly 6 to 12 months

solid lipsticks and pencils: often 12 to 24 months

powder blush, bronzer, foundation, and eyeshadow: often 12 to 24 months

These are general ranges, not universal guarantees. First, follow a printed expiration date and the manufacturer’s instructions. Next, check for a Period After Opening symbol, such as 6M, 12M, or 24M. Finally, discard the product sooner if it smells different, changes color or texture, causes irritation, becomes contaminated, or was used during an eye infection.

For the fastest cleanout, start with old mascara and liquid eyeliner. Those products combine moisture, repeated exposure, and use beside a sensitive organ. A five-year-old powder blush may deserve inspection; a five-year-old mascara deserves the trash.

Typical Makeup Expiration Timeline

The following ranges combine guidance from the FDA, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and major medical centers. Because formulas and packaging differ, the label or manufacturer’s advice should take priority.

Product	Common Replacement Range After Opening	Replace Sooner When
Mascara	2 to 4 months	It dries, clumps, smells different, or was used during an eye infection
Liquid or gel eyeliner	3 to 6 months	The tip becomes dirty, the formula separates, or the eye becomes irritated
Pencil eyeliner	12 to 24 months	It changes texture, cannot be sharpened cleanly, or was used during an infection
Liquid or cream eyeshadow	6 to 12 months	It separates, dries out, smells unusual, or irritates the eyelid
Powder eyeshadow	12 to 24 months	It crumbles, develops a film, changes smell or color, or becomes wet
Liquid foundation and concealer	6 to 12 months	It develops an odor, separates permanently, changes color, or irritates the skin
Cream blush, bronzer, or contour	6 to 12 months	The texture, smell, or application changes
Powder foundation, blush, or bronzer	12 to 24 months	It gets wet, develops an unusual surface, crumbles, or stops applying normally
Lip gloss or liquid lipstick	6 to 12 months	It smells rancid, becomes unusually thick or stringy, or contacted an active lip infection
Solid lipstick or lip pencil	12 to 24 months	It smells waxy or rancid, sweats oil, changes texture, or causes irritation
Brow gel or liquid brow product	3 to 6 months	It dries, smells unusual, or the applicator becomes difficult to keep clean
Brow pencil or powder	12 to 24 months	It changes texture, becomes wet, or no longer performs normally
Makeup labeled with SPF	Follow the printed expiration date	The date has passed, packaging is damaged, or the product was stored in excessive heat

If the product’s Period After Opening symbol gives a shorter period than this table, use the shorter period. In addition, a printed expiration date on makeup with sunscreen or another over-the-counter drug ingredient is not optional guidance. Once that date passes, do not rely on the product to provide its labeled drug benefit.

Why Makeup Expires

Makeup can age in several ways at the same time. Consequently, a product may become unsuitable even if the container is not empty.

Microorganisms Enter During Normal Use

Human skin naturally carries microorganisms. Therefore, fingers, brushes, sponges, mascara wands, and doe-foot applicators can transfer bacteria, yeast, or mold into cosmetics. Every return trip from the face to the container creates another opportunity for contamination.

For example, a pump bottle limits direct contact better than an open jar, but it does not make the contents immortal or sterile. The nozzle can still become dirty, and the ingredients can still degrade.

Preservatives Do Not Work Forever

Preservatives help control microbial growth in many water-containing cosmetics. Over time, however, the preservative system may become less effective. Heat, moisture, dilution, repeated use, and changes in the formula can also reduce the protection the manufacturer designed into the product.

This is why adding water to dry mascara is a bad bargain. The water can introduce microorganisms while also diluting the preservative system. Saliva is worse because it directly adds microorganisms from the mouth.

Air, Light, and Heat Change Ingredients

Exposure to air can oxidize oils, pigments, and fragrance ingredients. As a result, a lipstick may develop a crayon-like or rancid smell, while a foundation may darken or apply differently. Sunlight and temperature changes can accelerate those reactions.

The FDA also warns against storing cosmetics above 85 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods. Therefore, makeup left in a hot Florida car, a sunny window, or luggage sitting in summer heat may deteriorate before its usual replacement date.

Water and Oil Can Separate

Liquid foundations, cream products, and other emulsions combine ingredients that do not naturally remain mixed. Some separation is normal when the label instructs the user to shake the product. However, persistent separation, curdling, graininess, or a texture that no longer returns to normal can signal that the formula has broken down.

Volatile Ingredients Evaporate

Mascara, liquid eyeliner, long-wear lipstick, and similar products may gradually lose volatile ingredients each time the package is opened. Consequently, the product can become thick, flaky, uneven, or difficult to apply. A deteriorated product may not be visibly contaminated, but it is no longer performing as designed.

Why Eye Makeup Deserves the Strictest Rules

The skin around the eyes is thin, and the surface of the eye is delicate. In addition, mascara and liquid eyeliner repeatedly move between an applicator, the lashes or eyelid, and a moist container. That combination explains why eye products have shorter recommended lives than most powders.

The FDA advises discarding mascara about 2 to 4 months after purchase. Similarly, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends replacing eye makeup after approximately 3 months. Those recommendations may feel conservative, especially when an expensive tube is not empty. Even so, an eye infection is a high price to pay for finishing the last portion of mascara.

Discard eye makeup immediately if:

you developed pink eye or another eye infection while using it
the eyelid or surrounding skin became inflamed
the product causes burning, stinging, redness, or watering
the mascara is dry, flaky, or clumpy
the eyeliner tip or container appears dirty
another person used the product
water or saliva was added
the product was stored in excessive heat

Do not resume eye makeup until an infection or inflammation has resolved and a healthcare professional’s instructions allow it. Furthermore, do not save the old products for “later.” The FDA specifically advises discarding eye cosmetics used when the infection occurred.

Therefore, seek prompt eye care for eye pain, light sensitivity, reduced or blurred vision, significant swelling, pus-like discharge, or symptoms that rapidly worsen. These signs require more than a makeup cleanout.

What Can Happen If You Use Old Makeup?

Using a product beyond a general timeline does not guarantee that something bad will happen. Nevertheless, the risk and the uncertainty increase as the product ages, becomes contaminated, or loses preservative effectiveness.

Skin Irritation

Ingredients that have oxidized or changed may no longer feel the same on the skin. In addition, fragrance components and other ingredients can trigger irritation or allergic contact dermatitis. Possible symptoms include burning, itching, redness, scaling, or swelling.

Breakouts and Inflamed Hair Follicles

Old products and dirty tools can transfer oil, dead skin, and microorganisms back to the face. As a result, some users develop acne-like breakouts or folliculitis. However, a breakout after makeup does not prove that product age was the only cause; the formula, skin condition, cleansing routine, and other exposures can also matter.

Skin Infection

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that contaminated cosmetics can contribute to infections such as impetigo or folliculitis. Risk may be higher when makeup is applied over broken, recently shaved, inflamed, or medically fragile skin.

Eye Infection or Injury

Contaminated eye makeup may contribute to conjunctivitis or other infection. Moreover, dried mascara can flake, and a damaged applicator can scratch the eye. The FDA warns never to apply or remove eye makeup in a moving vehicle because an unexpected movement can injure the eye.

Poor Performance

Health is the most important reason to clean out makeup, but performance matters too. Old foundation may separate, powder may harden, mascara may flake, and lipstick may drag or smell stale. In other words, keeping an aging product may not save money if it no longer gives a result worth wearing.

Signs Makeup Should Be Thrown Away Immediately

The calendar is helpful, but the condition of the product can overrule it. Therefore, discard makeup immediately when you notice:

mold, fuzzy growth, foreign material, or unexplained spots
a sour, rancid, musty, chemical, or otherwise changed odor
a clear color change that is not part of the normal formula
clumping, curdling, grittiness, stringiness, or permanent separation
a powder that crumbles unexpectedly, develops a hard film, or became wet
dried mascara or liquid eyeliner
leaking, cracked, swollen, or damaged packaging
repeated burning, itching, redness, breakouts, or swelling after use
contamination with water, saliva, dirt, or another person’s applicator
use during an eye infection
an applicable product recall

Do not scrape away visible mold and keep the rest. Likewise, spraying a powder with alcohol does not turn an expired or contaminated cosmetic into a newly tested product. Surface cleaning cannot confirm what is happening deeper in the formula, and adding another substance can alter the product.

Most importantly, appearance and smell cannot prove that makeup is safe. Microbial contamination may not be visible. Therefore, an old mascara does not earn extra time simply because it still looks black and smells normal.

What Does the Open-Jar Symbol Mean?

Many cosmetics display a small open-jar image with a number and the letter M. This is the Period After Opening, or PAO, symbol.

For example:

3M means use the product within 3 months after opening
6M means use it within 6 months
12M means use it within 12 months
24M means use it within 24 months

The clock generally begins when the product is first opened, not when it was purchased. However, the PAO period assumes ordinary use and proper storage. It does not promise that a product will remain suitable after contamination, heat damage, an infection, or a major formula change.

PAO labeling is common on internationally sold products because European Union cosmetic rules require durability information. For products with a minimum durability longer than 30 months, the open-jar symbol commonly tells the consumer how long the product should remain suitable after opening.

By contrast, U.S. law does not generally require ordinary cosmetics to display an expiration date or a PAO symbol. Therefore, the absence of a symbol does not mean the product lasts forever. It usually means the consumer must rely on the manufacturer, the opening date, the formula, and visible warning signs.

Is an Expiration Date the Same as a PAO Date?

No. A printed expiration date is a calendar date. A PAO period begins when the product is opened.

A product can reach its printed expiration date before the full PAO period has elapsed. For example, opening an older product does not create a fresh two-year life if the package carries an earlier absolute expiration date. Use whichever limit arrives first.

This distinction is particularly important for products that are both cosmetics and over-the-counter drugs in the United States. Foundation, concealer, lip products, or moisturizers labeled with SPF are regulated as both cosmetics and drugs. According to the FDA, drug products must be stability tested and carry expiration dates. Therefore, do not rely on expired SPF makeup for sun protection.

Does Unopened Makeup Expire?

Yes, unopened makeup can deteriorate. However, no single consumer timeline works for every unopened cosmetic.

An unopened package usually avoids the repeated contamination that begins during use. Even so, its preservatives, pigments, oils, emulsions, adhesives, and packaging can also age. Heat, freezing, sunlight, humidity, and long storage may accelerate the process.

If unopened makeup has a printed expiration date, follow it. If it has only a batch or lot code, contact the manufacturer and provide that code. The company may be able to identify the manufacturing period or product-specific shelf life. Third-party batch-code websites can be incomplete or wrong, so they should not overrule the manufacturer.

Be especially cautious with unopened products that are:

several years old with no reliable purchase history
from a discontinued line
bought secondhand
missing a seal that should have been present
sold by an unauthorized source
damaged, leaking, or discolored inside the package
stored in a garage, attic, hot vehicle, or other temperature-extreme location

The FDA warns that cosmetics resold online or offered at flea markets may be old, used, diluted, tampered with, or counterfeit. A bargain is not a bargain when the product’s history cannot be trusted.

How Formula and Packaging Change the Timeline

Two products with the same name can age differently because their formulas and containers are different.

Liquids and Creams

Water-containing products generally require an effective preservative system because moisture supports microbial growth. In addition, a cream in a wide-mouth jar receives more contact from fingers and air than a product dispensed through a pump.

Powders

Dry powders tend to last longer because they contain less available water. Nevertheless, powders are not contamination-proof. A damp sponge, wet brush, bathroom steam, or repeated contact with facial oil can introduce moisture and debris.

Pencils

Sharpenable eyeliner, brow, and lip pencils often last longer than liquids. For example, sharpening removes some exposed surface material. However, it does not make an old pencil permanently safe. Clean the sharpener regularly, and discard the pencil if its smell, texture, or performance changes.

Wands and Built-In Applicators

Mascara, lip gloss, liquid concealer, and brow gel often use an applicator that repeatedly returns to the container. Consequently, the applicator can carry material from the face back into the formula.

Pumps, Tubes, and Airless Containers

Packaging that limits direct contact may reduce contamination during normal use. Still, it cannot stop chemical aging, heat damage, or every form of microbial contamination. Follow the label even when the packaging appears especially hygienic.

Do Natural, Organic, or “Clean” Products Expire Faster?

They can, but the label alone does not answer the question. “Natural,” “organic,” and “clean” do not provide a universal shelf-life standard. The FDA also cautions consumers not to assume that a cosmetic is safer merely because its ingredients come from natural sources.

Some products marketed with fewer traditional preservatives may have shorter PAO periods. Others use different preservation systems and remain stable for the period established by the manufacturer. Therefore, check the individual package rather than assuming every “clean” product expires quickly or every conventional product lasts longer.

Preservative-free is not the same as contamination-free. If a product has special storage directions or a particularly short PAO period, follow them exactly.

How Storage Conditions Affect Makeup

Most importantly, storage can determine whether a product reaches its expected life.

For best results:

keep makeup in a cool, dry location
protect it from direct sunlight
close every cap and lid securely
keep the outside of containers clean
avoid leaving makeup in a hot vehicle
keep wet tools out of powder and cream products
allow cleaned brushes and sponges to dry completely
do not store loose products where they collect bathroom spray or toilet aerosols

The bathroom is convenient, but it is often warm and humid. Therefore, if possible, store the main collection in a bedroom drawer, closet, or vanity away from direct sun and shower steam. A small daily-use bag can remain convenient without exposing the entire collection to bathroom humidity.

Refrigeration is not routinely necessary. In fact, repeated temperature changes can affect some formulas. Refrigerate a cosmetic only when the label or manufacturer specifically recommends it.

Makeup Hygiene That Actually Extends Useful Life

Good hygiene cannot make makeup last forever. However, it can help a product reach its intended life without unnecessary contamination.

Wash Your Hands First

First, clean your hands before applying makeup, especially before touching products in jars or pans. This simple step reduces the material transferred into the container.

Clean Brushes Every 7 to 10 Days

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends cleaning makeup brushes every 7 to 10 days. Rinse the bristles with lukewarm water, use an appropriate gentle cleanser, and allow the brush to air-dry completely. Avoid soaking the ferrule or handle because water can weaken the glue.

Clean Makeup Sponges After Every Use

Dermatologists advise cleaning reusable makeup sponges after every use. A damp sponge contains moisture, touches the face, and often sits in a makeup bag, which is an unhelpful combination. Wash it thoroughly, rinse until the water runs clear, squeeze out excess water, and let it dry in a clean, ventilated location.

Discard a sponge that tears, remains stained or odorous after washing, no longer dries fully, or changes texture. Single-use wedges should not quietly become month-long tools.

Do Not Share Makeup

Sharing makeup can transfer microorganisms, oils, and dead skin. Therefore, do not share mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss, brushes, sponges, or products that directly touch the skin.

Cosmetic-counter testers deserve similar caution. The FDA recommends using a new, unused applicator if a product must be tested. Never apply a communal tester directly to the eyes or lips.

Do Not “Rescue” a Dry Formula

Do not add water, saliva, eye drops, facial oil, or another cosmetic unless the manufacturer specifically instructs you to mix those products. Changing the formula may introduce contamination, dilute preservatives, or make the product behave unpredictably.

Keep Pencils and Sharpeners Clean

Sharpen pencils regularly, wipe away debris, and clean the sharpener according to its material and manufacturer’s instructions. Let it dry before the next use.

A Practical Makeup Cleanout You Can Finish Today

An overflowing collection can make the job feel larger than it is. Therefore, work in a risk-based order.

1. Start With Mascara and Liquid Eyeliner

If you cannot remember opening them, they are probably not recent enough to justify keeping. Discard tubes that are older than the recommended period, dry, clumpy, shared, contaminated, or used during an eye problem.

This first step provides the greatest safety benefit for the least decision-making.

2. Check Every Printed Date and PAO Symbol

Look on the base, crimp, cap, label, and outer box if you still have it. Write down the opening date for anything you are keeping. A small removable label works well.

3. Inspect Liquids and Creams

Smell them, look for color or texture changes, and compare the formula with how it behaved when new. Discard products with unexplained separation, curdling, graininess, swelling, leakage, or an off odor.

4. Inspect Powders and Pencils

Keep only products that are within a reasonable age, stayed dry, apply normally, and show no warning signs. A powder palette does not receive automatic lifetime membership simply because it cost a lot or contains a favorite discontinued shade.

5. Use Three Piles

Keep: within the label guidance, stored properly, and performing normally
Replace soon: nearing the recommended limit but currently acceptable
Discard now: expired, contaminated, changed, irritating, or too old to date confidently

Do not create a fourth pile called “I will decide in six months.” That is how a makeup drawer becomes an archive.

6. Clean the Storage Area and Tools

Once the products are sorted, wash brushes and sponges, clean pencil sharpeners, and wipe the drawer or organizer. Otherwise, the cleaned collection returns to a dirty environment.

7. Buy Less, but Buy What You Will Use

The most economical product is not the largest palette or the biggest bottle. It is the product you can use safely before it deteriorates. Therefore, smaller sizes, one open mascara at a time, and fewer near-duplicate shades can reduce both waste and future cleanout decisions.

The Emotional Problem With Throwing Away Expensive Makeup

It is understandable to hesitate over an expensive foundation or a discontinued lipstick. However, the money was spent when the item was purchased. Keeping it longer does not recover that cost.

Instead, consider what keeping it buys today. If the product is old, unpleasant, unsafe to share, and rarely worn, it is using space while making the collection harder to manage. Discarding it can make the products you genuinely enjoy easier to see and use.

You also do not need courtroom-level proof that a cosmetic has become dangerous. The standard can be simpler: Would you confidently put this near your eye or on irritated skin today? If the honest answer is no, the product has already stopped being useful.

When to Contact a Healthcare Professional

Stop using the suspected product and seek medical advice if a cosmetic causes persistent redness, swelling, burning, itching, blistering, rash, or signs of infection.

Prompt eye evaluation is especially important for:

eye pain
light sensitivity
blurred or reduced vision
marked eyelid swelling
thick or pus-like discharge
difficulty opening the eye
symptoms that worsen rapidly
symptoms in a contact-lens wearer

Severe facial swelling, trouble breathing, faintness, or swelling of the lips or tongue may indicate a serious allergic reaction and requires emergency help.

If a cosmetic causes an unexpected reaction or appears defective, contaminated, or altered, the FDA accepts consumer complaints. Keep the product packaging, lot code, purchase information, and photographs when possible, but do not continue using the product merely to document the reaction.

If you are reviewing beauty products, skin health, hair care, or normal growth timelines, these related guides may also help:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does makeup last after opening?

Most opened makeup lasts approximately 3 months to 2 years, depending on the product. Mascara and liquid eye makeup expire fastest, while dry powders and pencils often last longer. The printed expiration date, PAO symbol, and manufacturer instructions should take priority over a general chart.

Is it safe to use makeup after the PAO period?

The PAO period is the manufacturer’s guidance for how long the product should remain suitable after opening under normal conditions. A product does not become visibly spoiled at midnight on the last day, but using it longer means moving beyond that guidance. For mascara and other eye products, the safer choice is replacement.

Can makeup be bad even if it smells normal?

Yes. Appearance and odor can reveal some deterioration, but they cannot confirm that a product is free of harmful microorganisms. Therefore, smell is one part of the decision, not a safety test.

Does expensive makeup last longer?

Not necessarily. Price does not determine the preservation system, packaging, storage history, or contamination during use. Follow the individual product’s label regardless of cost.

Does unopened makeup expire?

Yes. Unopened makeup usually lasts longer because it has not been repeatedly exposed during use, but ingredients and packaging can still age. Follow printed dates and contact the manufacturer with the batch code when the product’s age is unclear.

Can I keep powder makeup longer than two years?

Some powder products may appear normal beyond two years, and published recommendations vary. However, a long-lived powder is not automatically safe. Consider its label, age, storage, tool hygiene, exposure to moisture, and condition. Discard it if the history is uncertain or the product has changed.

Should makeup be stored in the refrigerator?

Usually no. Store most makeup in a cool, dry place at room temperature unless the manufacturer gives different directions. Repeated temperature changes or condensation may be unhelpful for some formulas.

Can I sanitize expired makeup with alcohol?

Alcohol may be used to clean certain tools or packaging when appropriate, but spraying a cosmetic does not restore a degraded preservative system or prove the contents are safe. It also may change the formula. Do not use surface sanitizing as a way to restart an expiration timeline.

Why should mascara be replaced so often?

The wand repeatedly moves between the lashes and a moist tube, exposing the product during every use. Because an eye infection can be serious, the FDA says manufacturers commonly recommend discarding mascara about 2 to 4 months after purchase.

What should I do with makeup used during pink eye?

Stop using eye makeup while the infection is active and follow your healthcare professional’s directions. The FDA advises discarding the eye cosmetics used when the infection occurred.

Can I donate makeup I no longer want?

Donation rules vary. For example, many organizations accept only unopened, unused, unexpired products with intact seals. Opened makeup, particularly eye and lip products, generally should not be donated or shared.

How can I remember when makeup was opened?

Write the opening month and year on a small label attached to the product. Alternatively, record it in a phone note or calendar. When you open mascara, set a reminder approximately three months ahead.

Quick Summary

Most makeup should be replaced within about 3 months to 2 years after opening. However, product type matters. Mascara deserves the shortest timeline, with FDA guidance noting that manufacturers commonly recommend replacement after roughly 2 to 4 months. Liquid eyeliner and other moist eye products also require a conservative approach. Meanwhile, many face powders and pencils can remain usable for 12 to 24 months when they stay dry, clean, properly stored, and within the manufacturer’s guidance.

The label comes first. Follow a printed expiration date, especially on makeup labeled with SPF. In addition, use the open-jar PAO symbol to track the number of months after opening. If neither appears, mark the opening date and contact the manufacturer when a batch code or product-specific question matters.

Discard makeup immediately if it develops mold, an unusual smell, a color or texture change, damaged packaging, or repeated irritation. Also discard eye products used during an infection. Do not add water or saliva to mascara, and do not assume that alcohol spray can reverse contamination or formula breakdown.

Finally, clean brushes every 7 to 10 days, clean reusable sponges after every use, keep products tightly closed, and store the collection away from heat and humidity. If a drawer cleanout feels wasteful, remember that keeping an old product does not recover its purchase price. It only keeps an uncertain product in the group you place on your face.

Sources & References

Editorial Review

Reviewed by Claire Bennett, Managing Editor

Last reviewed: July 2026

Claire Bennett and the Quick Answer Guide editorial team review content using official government resources, medical organizations, peer-reviewed research, major medical centers, and other authoritative references when appropriate. Articles are periodically updated to improve accuracy, clarity, and usefulness for readers.