How to Conquer Your Beauty Clutter
See how three women were freed from their beauty bounty and get inspired to lighten your own load.
By Jenny Bailly
The Toss-It Timetable
3 to 4 Months
Mascaras and Liquid Eyeliners
These dark, moist tubes breed bacteria. (Never keep more than a couple in rotation; you'll forget when you opened them.)
6 Months
Sunscreen, Retinoids, and Acne Products
Sunscreens and prescription products must carry an expiration date. But whatever the date, once opened, use the product within six months. The ingredients can degrade.
1 Year
Liquid Makeup and Cream Shadows
They start to get dried out or goopy, and the color may change.
1 to 2 Years
Moisturizers
If they're in a tub or jar, they'll become more quickly contaminated (because they're exposed to air and your fingers), so toss them within a year. Moisturizers in a tube or pump can last two years.
2 years
Shampoos, Conditioners, and Gels
The oils and water in the formulas may start to separate. You know they're past their prime when their texture, color, or scent changes.
2 years
Loose and Pressed Powders
Bacteria grow more slowly in powder products because they contain very little water.
Pencil Lip Liners and Eyeliners
Sharpen them after every few uses to keep them clean
Lipsticks and Glosses
Toss them sooner if they start to smell "off" or feel waxy.
From the
March 2012 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
