Semi Crunchy, Always Extra

Does makeup expire? How long do beauty products last before they go bad?

You may have seen a post floating around social media saying that you can (and should) donate your old mascara wands because mascara goes bad in 3-6 months anyway. I also saw a post showing a closeup of demodex folliculorum (barf!) that likes to live on eyelashes and eat your facial secretions and dead skin. (Double barf!!!) I’ll spare you of the photo. Wander down that google wormhole at your own risk!

Here’s some helpful guidelines for your Red Aspen, SeneGence, LipSense, and other beauty products!

Here’s what to look for – some of your beauty products have a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol on the label. This symbol appears as a small jar, with a number inside. The number represents the number of months that the product is recommended to use after opening the product. This does not indicate closed shelf life of the product, but only after opening. 

**TIP!** I like to write the date on all my skincare products when I open them, that way, I know how long they last with average use and I know when it’s time to toss them!

Red Aspen product PAO:

  • Asha’s Ink EyeLiner – 6M
  • Naomi’s GlamBam Pencil Eyeliner – 24M
  • Pump It Up Maggie Mascara – 6M
  • Dawn’s Brow Primer – 6M
  • Averie’s Brow Pencil – 12M
  • Lacey’s Browlight Duo Pencil – 24M
  • Kara Gets Glowing Liquid Highlighter – 12M
  • Evelyn’s Blush & Crush – 12M
  • Molly’s Liquid Matte Lip – 9M
  • Contour with Grace lip pencil – 12M
  • Clearly Claire/Taylored Lip Gloss – 6M

Estimated Red Aspen PAO:

  • Nail Dashes ~up to 14 days
  • Nail Dash Glue ~ 3 months
  • Faux silk lashes average 3-7 or more wears
  • Faux mink lashes average 5-10 or more wears
  • Lash Adhesive 6 months*
  • *estimated based on industry guidelines for products applied close to the eye area because Red Aspen Lash Adhesive may be applied to reusable Red Aspen Lashes.

    • Other general cosmetic PAO Period After Opening:

    Lip products (12M) – The industry standard for lip products is 12 months.

    Mascara & Eyeliner (6M) – As an industry standard, it’s best to replace mascara products 6 months after opening, since this product is applied very close to your eyes. 

    Eye shadow (12M) – Because contact with eyes is less likely than Mascara, industry standard is 12 months. 

    Skin care (12M-24M) – Skin care products range from 12-24 months, depending on sensitivity to light and heat. 

    Hair care (12M & 24M) – Like skin care, hair care products range from 12-24 months depending on formula sensitivity. 

    Jenn @SemiCrunchyAlwaysExtra

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