How do I know if my foundation has expired?

According to Viktoria @vioda.makeup, Check for separation (oil layer on top), color shift (usually darker or more orange), changed smell, or different texture. If you're getting breakouts only where you apply foundation, that's a strong indicator it's harboring bacteria. Pump bottles last 12 months; jar foundations closer to 6 months after opening.

Does unopened makeup expire?

According to Viktoria @vioda.makeup, Yes, but much more slowly. Unopened products typically last 2-3 years from manufacture date. Some brands print a batch code you can check online. If you find a forgotten unopened product, it's probably fine if it's under 3 years old and has been stored in a cool, dry place.

Can expired makeup cause acne?

According to Viktoria @vioda.makeup, Yes. Expired makeup, especially liquid products, can harbor bacteria that cause breakouts, irritation, and even infections. If you're experiencing persistent breakouts in areas where you apply makeup, check the age of your products — especially foundation, concealer, and cream blush.

Makeup Expiration Guide | When to Replace Makeup

Your mascara expired three months ago. Your foundation might be fine for another year. Here's how to tell which is which.

How long each makeup product actually lasts, signs it's expired, and why some products become unsafe before they look or smell different.

The PAO Symbol: What Those Numbers Mean

Look at any makeup product and you'll find a small icon of an open jar with a number — '6M,' '12M,' '24M.' This is the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol, and it tells you how many months the product is safe to use after you first open it. It's not a suggestion; it's based on stability and microbial testing.

The tricky part: most people don't remember when they opened a product. A simple solution is to write the open date on the bottom of the product with a Sharpie, or set a phone reminder.

Mascara: 3 Months

Mascara has the shortest lifespan of any makeup product. The dark, moist tube is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and every time you pump the wand, you push air and microbes into the formula. After 3 months, the bacterial count in mascara can reach levels that cause eye infections — styes, conjunctivitis, or worse.

Signs it's expired: smells different, formula is clumpy or dried out, burns or stings on application. But mascara can harbor harmful bacteria before any visible signs appear. Replace it at 3 months regardless.

Liquid Foundation and Concealer: 6-12 Months

Liquid products with water-based formulas are susceptible to microbial growth. Pump bottles last longer (less air exposure) than jars or squeeze tubes. If you dip fingers into a jar foundation, it's closer to 6 months. Pump bottles with good seals last 12 months.

Signs it's expired: separation (oil sitting on top), changed smell, different texture, oxidation (shade shifting darker or more orange), or breakouts concentrated where you apply it.

Lipstick and Lip Gloss: 12-18 Months

Traditional bullet lipsticks last 12-18 months. Their low water content makes them less hospitable to bacteria. Lip glosses with doe-foot applicators expire faster (12 months) because the applicator introduces saliva and bacteria back into the tube.

Signs it's expired: waxy or rancid smell, grainy texture, changed color, or irritation on the lips. Matte liquid lipsticks tend to dry out and become unusable before they become unsafe.

Powder Products: 18-24 Months

Pressed and loose powders — eyeshadow, blush, bronzer, setting powder — have the longest shelf life because they contain almost no water. Bacteria need moisture to thrive, so dry powders are naturally resistant. Most powder products last 18-24 months.

Signs they've gone bad: hardened surface that won't pick up on a brush, diminished pigment, or a stale smell. Powder products are more likely to lose performance quality than to become unsafe.

Skincare-Makeup Hybrids: Follow the Shorter Timeline

Products that blend skincare and makeup (SPF foundations, serum foundations, vitamin-infused tinted moisturizers) follow skincare expiration rules, which are typically shorter. Active ingredients degrade over time, so even if the product looks fine, the SPF protection or vitamin C activity may be gone.

Treat these products as 6-month products. The active ingredients break down before the cosmetic formula does, so you're wearing an expired sunscreen that still looks like foundation.

When to Throw It Out Immediately

Regardless of the timeline: if you had an eye infection, throw out all eye products (mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow). If the product smells rancid, has visible mold, or has drastically changed texture or color, throw it out. If a product causes itching, burning, or breakouts that it didn't before, throw it out.

The cost of a replacement product is always less than the cost of an infection or allergic reaction.

When to Replace Your Makeup Products (Expiration Guide)