By Rita Okoye 

Just like medications in your medicine cabinet, cosmetic products and tools have a shelf life. How can you tell if your makeup has gone bad?
Let’s explore some makeup items to toss out this new year and understand why.

Mascara
Though the average life span of mascara is four to six months, you may need to get rid of it before then. As soon as your Mascara starts smelling funky (like burning plastic) and depositing more clumps than colour, then it’s time to discard it. Take no chances with eye products—germ-ridden formulas can cause infections.

Eyeliner
Immediately part ways with your pencil liner if the tip starts oozing an oily substance or forms a white film. Hang on to liquid liners for no more than six months, and dump them sooner if they thicken or have a bad smell.
The applicator tip is in constant contact with your eyes and can quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Foundation
Most formulas—liquids, creams, and compacts—can last up to a year if kept out of direct sunlight and away from heaters. Once your liquid starts to separate, your cream thickens, or your compact colour develops a strange aroma, like rubber, it’s time to toss it. 

Concealer
It’s time to throw out your liquid concealer if it separates, appears oily, and/or smells rancid. Keeping hands out of your concealer’s pot or pan and tightly screwing on the lid can save it from spoiling before the year is up.

Blush and Eye Shadow
Expect the one cream formula to last one year, powders about two. If your powder grows a white crust or starts to crumble before that time, chuck it. You can also protect powders by keeping them dry and storing them in a place other than the bathroom, where humidity can alter their texture.

Lipstick
Unless it turns gooey, smells rubbery, or no longer applies to your lips, you can safely use lipstick for at least eight months. Of course, if lipstick comes into contact with a cold sore or another type of infection, throw it away.

Nail Polish
Nail polish generally lasts a long time. However, polish that has gone bad—in other words, that’s hard to use—will be thick when you try to apply it, dried out, or separated. If that happens, you may want to replace the polish if possible.