Do you keep using mascara even past the expiration date?
Beautiful with Brains says: I used to when I first started using makeup. I didn’t know mascara had such a short shelf-life lol, so I kept using a tube until it ran out. I think I used a mascara for a whole year once. Ewww. It’s kinda gross when I think about that now but thank goodness I didn’t get any infections or anything. Now I throw away a tube after about 3-4 month, though. 
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m guilty! It wasn’t until a co-bloggers recent post that I learned about ditching mascaras after a good 3-4 months!
herroyalbleakness´s last [type] ..Do Mongrels Bug You- Too
herroyalbleakness, I found out you had to change it so often fom a blog too lol.
But I still know a lot of people that don’t know that, it doesn’t seem to be too well-known that mascara has such a short shelf life.
Impossibile che mi accada ma soprattutto perché lo consumo prima e si seccherebbe oltre.
Marguerite N.´s last [type] ..Novità Clarins- Fond de Teint Skin Illusion
Marguerite, si, se si usa un mascara spesso questi problemi non ci sono, finisce prima che scade.
Ma quando andavo a scuola mi truccavo solo nei weekend perciò il mascara durava molto di più e non pensavo fosse necessario cambiarlo lol.
Yes I do. I honestly don’t pay attention to the date I open a mascara and couldn’t tell you how old they are. I just wait until they run out or dry up. I just threw out a mascara last week since it dried up, but haven’t a clue how old it was, probably 9 or 10 months. I also have several tubes going at the same time, so the one I threw out I probably only used a total of 5 times.
I’ve been very lucky too and haven’t gotten any eye infections, but it’s probably because my mascaras get so little use even though I keep them awhile.
Donna, I’m glad you have never had an any infection despite using your mascaras past the expiration date. I never had any problems when I did the same. I think the preservatives used in mascaras may still be effective for some time after the expiration date and if you don’t share, the risk of infection is small but I like to err on the side of caution and change it after 3-4 months anyway, just in case.
3 months tops for me!
Brittany, me too! I stretch to 4 only if I REALLY love a mascara lol.
I never use it for an entire year, but I’d say I keep my mascaras around for 5-6 months rather than 3-4.
Makeup Morsels´s last [type] ..Current State of Events Pertaining to Finals But Still Beauty Related In Some Way
Makeup Morsels, mascara have a shelf life of six months so it is ok to use it that long. I’m guess I’m just being overcautious.
I used a tube of mascara for 6 months before. I can’t recall the name but at that time, it was a good mascara that was discontinued. I kept on plunging it in hot water to revive it a couple of times until it became too thick and I had to let it go. It was a sad day for me. I still can’t find such a good mascara like that anymore. Voluminous came close but still…
Dao´s last [type] ..Get Voluminous Hair with Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo
Dao, it’s a shame when you find a good mascara that gets discountd, especially since it is so had to find a good one in the first place! But at last you managed to get the most out of it.
I throw out mascara when I can tell the formula changes and it no longer works properly.
Phyrra´s last [type] ..Sneak Peek – Evil Shades New Pinup Girls Collection
Phyrra, that’s a nice way to realize when the mascara’s going bad and you have to try it away.
You are so good! I can never remember when I first opened my mascara so I’ve probably been using my little collection for quite a while now @_@ How do you manage to remember?
Celina´s last [type] ..Book of Fables &8211 Chapter 40- We R Who We R
Celina, I usually write down somewhere (calender or journal usuyally) when I first start using a mascara so I know when it’s time to change it.
Sadly, I do! Guilty as charged! But, I’m getting better at it!
Fabuless Beauty´s last [type] ..Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizing Cream Cleanser Review
Fabuless Beauty, if the formula hasn’t changed and the preservatives stil work, I don’t think there is much chance to get an infection (unless you share a mascara with other people). But it’s still better to change it often just in case imo.
3-4 months? !!!
I have been using some from past 1 year or so. If it is going to be a 3-4 months scenario then I can’t be buying more then 2 or 3 of them at any given time.
You got me thinking I will have to look for expiration dates on the bottles if there is any printed on there.
LatestGirls´s last [type] ..10 tips for doing the prom makeup
LatestGirl, usually mascara has a shelf-life of 6 months, at least that’s what’s written on all of the ones I own. That’s because being liquid, it’s easier for bacteria to grow in them as they need a moist enviroment to live in. Of course, they have preservatives to avoid that from happening, but they only last for a few months.
I also never buy more than one or two mascaras at a time for this reason.
I throw mascara out when the formula changes and it starts becoming flaky!
x
Stavroula Plag´s last [type] ..QOTW 16 – Whats your least favorite facial feature
Stavroula, that’s a good way to know when a product has expired and needs to be thrown away.
Guilty too! I had a brown mascara that I used less than the black one, so I really did not want to throw it away thinking: “there is still so much product inside…”! I ended up using it for about 2 years! *shame* And the black mascara I am using now must be more than one year old *more shame* I still like it, but I am willing to reform and I have made a deal with myself to throw it away at the end of this month. I really have no excuse, since I have already bought two other mascaras!!! I have been wise enough not to open them though: I think the 6-months’ period starts from the day you first open them, right?
Meibola, two years is a really long time to keep using the same mascara! I can understand you not wanting to waste good products, and it’s a shame that mascaras have such a short shelf-life but when it comes to our eyes, it’s best not to take any chances. Yes, it starts from the day you open the mascara (unless the mascara is a few years old, in that case, I wouldn’t really use it). But if they are a few weeks or months old they should be alright.