how long should you hold on to your products?

do you know what this symbol means? well, if you've seen it on your cosmetics, you know it means something, right?
it's called a PAO (Period After Opening) symbol or Open Jar Symbol. depending on the number in the jar, representing months, you know how long you have, after it's opened, before you have to throw it away. simply put, it's a symbol to help the consumer know how long the product will work at it's best. not all products have this symbol, but if you purchase a product that does, the easiest thing to remind yourself of when you bought it, is to write the purchase date on it using a sharpie.

if your product doesn't have this symbol, please note that all beauty products do need to be replaced at some point! hanging on to a funny smelling foundation or lipgloss is not a good idea. take a look:

Mascara~ Every three months
Foundation~ One year
Concealer~ 12 – 18 months
Powder~ 18 months
Blush/Bronzer~ 18 months
Cream blush~ 12 – 18 months
Eye shadow~ 18 months
Eyeliner~ 18 months
Liquid eyeliner~ 6 months
Lipstick / lip gloss~ 18 months
Lip liner~ One year
Nail polish~ One year
Makeup sponges~ Wash after each use, then throw away after a month.



just as many of us are "spring cleaning" our homes this time of year, don't' forget to take some time to spring clean that makeup bag or train case.

take note of these time frames, and be sure to pay attention to when you buy your products. just like you wouldn't eat moldy bread or drink sour milk, using products beyond their shelf life is not healthy either.


xo