How Long Do Eyeshadow Palettes Last?
Eyeshadow is one of those beauty staples that everyone has in their makeup bag.
It’s a great way to add dimension and fun to your look.
Feeling tired? Certain eyeshadows can make your eyes look awake. Going on a date after work?
Swipe on some eyeshadow to instantly add a sultry evening look to your face.
Needless to say, eyeshadow is one of those essentials that most women keep in their makeup bags, ensuring they always have it on hand.
If you’re anything like us, you might have several different eyeshadow palettes for various occasions.
And you might have these for years because eyeshadow palettes don’t run out fast.
So, how long do eyeshadow palettes last?
Generally, most powdered eyeshadow is made to last 2-3 years. However, the specific longevity of your shadow will depend on the brand and the ingredients used in its manufacture. If you have cream or water-based eyeshadow, it expires a lot quicker than powdered eyeshadow – in under a year.
If you’ve been keeping eyeshadow palettes for months or years, it might be time to go through them and discard the ones you no longer use.
In this article, we will do a deep dive into how long eyeshadow palettes typically last, how to tell if they’ve started to go bad, and why you never want to put expired eyeshadow on your lids.
Does Eyeshadow Go Bad?
Yes, eyeshadow can go bad. Before you run to dispose of all of your favorite shadow palettes, here’s the good news: eyeshadow lasts considerably longer than most other makeup.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that some components in the eyeshadow can still expire and deteriorate over time.
Expired eyeshadow is not fun to use. First of all, it may be downright dangerous, causing irritation and other skin issues.
Getting expired eyeshadow in your eyes is even more harmful.
Secondly, it can start to perform worse.
Expired eyeshadow sometimes changes color and texture, and begins to clump up and gather in the fine lines of your eyelids. Not a great look!
So, if your eyeshadow is past its expiration date, it might be time to say goodbye and replace it.
How Long Should You Keep Eyeshadow?
If you’re wondering when the right time is to retire your eyeshadow, we have some tips to help you determine the best time.
Generally, most powdered eyeshadow is made to last 2-3 years.
However, the specific longevity of your shadow will depend on the brand and the ingredients used in its manufacture.
If you have cream or water-based eyeshadow, it expires a lot quicker than powdered eyeshadow – in under a year.
That’s because “wet” eyeshadows usually contain certain oils that can break down and cause separation and other issues if used beyond their expiration date.
Thankfully, most eyeshadow palettes are made with powdered eyeshadow, which tends to last the longest. You can expect it to be safe to use for at least 2 years.
To determine the specific number of months on your eyeshadow’s longevity, refer to the packaging.
In the US, makeup must be labeled with required information somewhere on the packaging, which serves as a guide to determine the product’s shelf life.
Look for an image of a makeup jar with a number inside. This number indicates how many months after opening your product is safe to use.
For example, if it says 24M on the label of your eyeshadow, then you can safely use it for 24 months or 2 years.
It’s essential to remember that these numbers are intended to serve as guidelines.
Several factors can impact the longevity of your eyeshadow.
For example, if it gets exposed to a lot of moisture or bacteria, it can expire much sooner than the packaging indicates.
This is why, in addition to looking for the expiration information from the manufacturer, you should also pay attention to the state of the eyeshadow itself to determine if it’s still safe to use.
How To Tell That It’s Time To Throw Your Eyeshadow Away
If your eyeshadow starts to go bad, you will sometimes notice visible signs of its deterioration. Do not ignore those.
Your eyes and nose are your best friends when it comes to sniffing out expired makeup.
Texture Changes
The first sign of eyeshadow that has overstayed its welcome is that it becomes hard.
If you’re noticing that your eyeshadow feels more packed in, harder to pick up with a brush, and more difficult to blend, it’s likely starting to get too old.
Hard eyeshadow in and of itself isn’t cause for concern.
You can probably still use it safely as long as you don’t mind the decrease in quality.
However, it’s a first sign for you to start paying attention and begin looking for a replacement palette soon.
Discoloration
Expired eyeshadow can develop visible spots of discoloration.
This could be due to several factors, including the separation of ingredients and the growth of mold.
Because mold is dangerous for your health, if you notice any discoloration on your eyeshadow, it’s best to throw it out immediately.
Even if the discoloration was caused by changes in pigment, rather than mold, it’s better to be safe than sorry and throw it out, as it’s definitely past its prime one way or the other.
Funky Smells
Another big clue that your eyeshadow palette has expired is the smell.
Pay attention to subtle scent changes, especially as the expiration date approaches.
Expired eyeshadow doesn’t always smell bad. But it will smell different.
It may have a more chemical smell or a damp, musty odor.
If bacterial growth occurs, it can even develop an unpleasant, musky smell.
Either way, if you’ve noticed a change in smell, it’s best to chuck it.
Your eyeshadow won’t smell different unless it has begun to undergo irreversible changes that are likely harmful.
What Happens If You Use Expired Eyeshadow?
Using expired eyeshadow puts you and your health at risk.
This is because your eyelids are considered a very delicate area, where your skin is thin and sensitive.
Many people experience issues with unexpired products on their eyelids, which can irritate.
Imagine putting something that has gone rancid, moldy, or overgrown with bacteria on your sensitive eyelids!
Although using eyeshadow a few weeks past its expiration point won’t kill you, if you notice that the eyeshadow has gone bad (through texture changes, discoloration, and smell), it’s best to dispose of it.
You may experience irritation, swelling, redness, itchiness, and potentially an infection.
If any of it gets into your eyes, it can lead to more serious problems, including an eye infection that may require treatment with antibiotics.
Of course, this is the worst-case scenario.
If you accidentally used slightly expired eyeshadow and now you’re panicking, don’t worry. Most likely nothing will happen.
Remove the eyeshadow from your eyes as soon as possible using a gentle cleanser and discard it in the trash.
Even if your eyeshadow isn’t technically expired and you’re not noticing any unusual smells, if it causes a rash or discomfort every time you wear it, it’s best to replace it.
It’s best to discard it and invest in another product that won’t irritate your eyelids.
How To Make Your Eyeshadow Palettes Last Longer
If you want to ensure that your eyeshadow palettes can last as long as the packaging says without going bad ahead of their time, there are a few things you can do:
Clean Your Brushes
One of the best ways to ensure that your eyeshadow doesn’t get contaminated by bacteria is to keep your brushes extra clean with something like a makeup brush shampoo.
That means sanitizing your eyeshadow brushes between each use.
For that same reason, you should avoid dabbing your fingers into the eyeshadow because they can carry bacteria as well.
Avoid Moist Environments
Humid and moist environments usually cause mold in eyeshadow.
So, if you usually keep your eyeshadow under the sink, where it can sometimes get wet and warm, you might want to rethink this.
In fact, anywhere in your bathroom is probably not a great place to store your eyeshadow, especially if you don’t have excellent ventilation.
To help your eyeshadows last longer, keep them in a dry, cool place.
We recommend using organizer drawers that you can easily bring to the bathroom or store under your sink for an extra layer of protection.
For more ideas on storing eyeshadow palettes, check out this video from MissAlinaMina on YouTube.
Alcohol
Another thing you can do to ensure that there isn’t any bacteria or mold growing on or in your eyeshadow is to spritz a little bit of isopropyl alcohol over the surface of it every month or so.
Be careful with this trick, however.
You don’t want to add too much alcohol to your eyeshadow because some of it might later end up on your skin.
And the last thing you want to do is cause your eyeshadow to dry out your eyelids!
But a spritz of alcohol once every month or two can help ensure no germs are getting comfortable in your eyeshadow palette.
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