Here’s what you might want to ditch:
Liquid Foundation and Nail Polish: If they remain separated after you shake them, they’re done. For good.
Lipsticks: Kind of gross, but smell them. If there’s something vaguely chemical about your second-favourite red, it’s past its prime. Sticks that are sweating or that have a dried texture are on their way to becoming rancid. (You usually have about three years till that happens.)
Liquid Eyeliner: One word: microbes. Silicone-based liners are safe for two years, but water-based ones get iffy much faster. If in doubt, toss.
Fragrance: Once opened, a fragrance stays fresh anywhere from a year to eight years. (But the eight years is a long shot.) Heavy orientals have a longer shelf life than light, citrusy scents. If you got a new fragrance over the holidays but you’re still using your old one, store the new bottle in its original packaging in the refrigerator—it’ll keep longer.
Sponges: If yours are brittle, buy new ones. Old, porous ones will suck up your makeup and you’ll lose way more money on lost foundation than you will by buying a fresh pack.
Brushes: If the bristles are fraying or falling out, dump it. Plus if your brushes become too pinched or squashed, then they simply will not be up to the job.
{Pic: Becca Cosmetics}