Beauty Expiration

Liquid foundations and concealers should be replaced every six months. To make your foundation last as long as possible, be sure to store it in a cool area. This is especially vital in the summer, when the heat and humidity can take a toll on the ingredients inside by melting and separating them.

Lip glosses and lipsticks can last anywhere from 18 months to two years. Keep a watchful eye on your favorite hues — if you notice an off smell or taste, toss them in the trash and treat yourself to a new tube! Also be wary of who you let stick their fingers in your favorite pot 'o gloss. Friends with a cold who swipe your gloss with their fingers have now just made your favorite lip gloss a breeding ground for bacteria.

Powdered blushes and bronzers are good for six to nine months. The key here is to replace your brushes and applicators when you replace your compacts. If you prefer using a nicer set of brushes that you splurged on, you don't need to toss those, but make sure they get a thorough washing at least every nine months.

Give your lotion a big 'ol kiss — it's the longest-lasting beauty product in your bathroom! Though some of the ingredients (especially if you go for organic products and moisturizers) won't be as potent, regular lotion, including products with SPF, is good for up to three years, according to David Leffell, M.D., professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. But again, keep an eye as you lather and if you notice your lotion getting lumpy, smelling funny, or having an odd hue, splurge on a new bottle. If you are heading to the beach and are using strictly SPF, replace your bottle every year so that the ingredients are at their strongest to protect you from a bad burn.

Face wash is a long-lasting beauty product, but unfortunately for us, we usually use up the bottle before it's even close to the expiration date — which is one to two years. If you wash your face twice a day, you will finish yours in less than three months.

Your loofah's job is to scrub dead skin cells off of your body. Gross, right? It goes without saying that while this is a helpful tool, it is one that needs to be replaced quite often. A study done in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology shows that if not replaced, loofahs can harbor many bacterial species, which then leads to skin rashes and breakouts. To prevent this, replace yours every three months.

Mascara is one of the most common places for bacteria to live, because of its wet nature. If you use it only for special occasions, you can replace your tube every six months. If you wear it daily, you'll want to swap yours every three months.

If you are using a powder eye shadow, you can keep it for up to two years, as long as you replace your brushes. It's easier for bacteria to grow in cream shadows, so you should switch them out every 12 to 18 months.

For the liquid eyeliner lovers, use the same rule of thumb as replacing your mascara — every three months. Toss eyeliner pencils if they are older than two years. Keeping your eyeliners sharpened will help them stay fresh longer.

Toothpaste usually comes with an expiration date because the FDA requires it. The expiration dates say toothpaste should be tossed after two years, but many dentists argue that the fluoride used in toothpaste never gets old and that a tube that is past the expiration date isn't any less effective.

Another long-lasting oral hygiene product, mouthwash lasts up to three years from its manufacture date. Mouthwashes that have alcohol, like Listerine, will have an expiration date on the bottle because they expire more quickly than nonalcoholic washes.

You can use your whitening strips after the expiration date, but don't expect to get the same results as you would from a new package. To preserve your strips longer, try sticking them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them.

Only using a spritz of hairspray for your cousin's wedding this weekend? No sweat. These cans last two to three years. Since you aren't directly applying anything to your skin or hair, you can share with a friend without fear of getting a beauty bug.

Replacing your hairbrush depends on how much stress you are putting on it. If you notice the bristles getting softer, it's probably time for a new one. And while we're on the topic of brushes, you should replace your toothbrush at least every three months. That is one area of your beauty routine you don't want to cut corners with!

If you're cleaning out your closet and find a stray combo pack of shampoo and conditioner, you can savor it for two to three years. So don't be afraid to bulk up the next time you make a beauty run.