A client came to see me once for a makeup consultation and brought with her cosmetics she’d had since she’d graduated. From highschool. Fifteen years before. I had her smell the makeup before we threw it all out. Yuck!
Makeup expiration dates aren’t as simple as you’d think. We get attached to our favourites, can’t remember when we bought them, and rarely replace things when we ought to. Although every cosmetic formula contains some kind of preservative to ensure safe use for for a good long stretch, we’re just not so good at paying attention to best-before info.
Clever Canadian company CARGO Cosmetics is now paying attention for us. The new package design of CARGO Classic ($22) and blu_ray High Definition ($24) lip glosses feature a groundbreaking technology that lets you know when it’s time to throw the gloss out. Called Timestrip®, it’s a wee numbered sliver that slots into the cap of the gloss tube; push it in to start the countdown. The red bar will fill the the strip over the next nine months. All red = time for a new gloss.
When it comes to your low-tech cosmetics, frankly the sniff test is the easiest way to tell whether something’s past its okay-to-use date. Any chemical or unpleasant whiff means toss-o-rama. For more about makeup expiration dates, how to track them, how to store makeup safely and how cosmetics companies decide what those best-before dates should be, click here to read “Time to Toss Out Your Makeup?” by Denise Wild, and here for BestHealthMag.ca’s “The Truth About Makeup Expiry Dates” by Ingrie Williams.
CARGO Timestrip Lip Gloss is available now at Sephora stores and www.sephora.com. Images courtesy of CARGO Cosmetics.
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
that is a great idea! All cosmetics company should take note on that! I usually use a marker to write down the dates of purchase! :D
You’re so diligent, Nikki! And I know how much stuff you must have! I tell folks to do that, but for various reasons, not everyone does or will. Thankfully, reaction to an unpleasant odour is almost foolproof — as long as everyone realizes makeup is designed either to have no odour or to smell pretty, or course. (Most people do, I hope!)
Fifteen year old makeup? Good GOD. I see scary looking shit like that among the stash of my mother and sister-in-law’s. Crumbly Cover Girl eyeshadows that I’m convinced are from the late 80′s.
One word, Rockie: INTERVENTION!
Oh Dear … I have had MAC’s Full Coverage foundation that I use as concealer for 4 years now. This is probably bad? But there’s so much LEFT and it’s so PRICEY! arg.
Also, is the blue ray for making teeth whiter? :D
Making teeth look whiter, obviously. Lip Gloss that actually whitens teeth sounds scary and dangerous.
Sister in law is supplied with fresh product. I don’t bother with mother-in-law.
Oh, misunderstood — thought it was your mum and your sister-in-law. NOW I understand!
Susan, you’re making me laugh.
1) You’d better subject that M.A.C stuff to a sniff test — if it smells rank, just imagine what you’re putting on your sensitive (hello!) skin and what it might be doing to you! What price are you really paying by not buying a new one?
2) My bad: I’d meant to explain the blu_ray gloss and er- didn’t. Blu_ray gloss was designed to super-hydrate and thus plump lips in order to smooth out tiny lines that High Def technology exaggerates.
3) Click on that “Time to Toss Out Your Makeup?” link in the story and learn something, missy!
Good push in the right direction. I threw out a lipstick last night that a boy picked out for me back in 2002. It was a Chanel sparkly red. Yeah, he went on to leave law school and become a porn star. Who could have seen that coming? Chanel sparkly red.
Oh who cares about your old Chanel lipstick, woman. Tell me more about this pornstarboy!!
ewww. time to go through all my make-up and chuck a bunch of stuff…
What, you don’t like law students who chuck it all for the porn industry?
Clever idea :) I have a TON of cosmetics that need tossing – I really only use one-twentieth of the items I own.
You are not alone — I gots some purging to do myself!