You may be wondering, how long does blush last? Whether you just found an old blush jammed in the corner of your makeup bag, or are just curious, here's everything your need to know to find out if your product is expired.
There's nothing worse than having to throw out your old makeup. Whether you just found an old powder blush at the bottom of your bag. Or, if your product is ~maybe~ a year or two old, you want to know if that blush is still safe to use.
We know it can be frustrating having to throw out expired makeup, no matter what makeup product it is. Because let's face it, most makeup isn't cheap. However, we highly recommend not using an expired makeup as this increases your risk for breakouts and infection 🙁
In this article, you'll learn how often you should replace your blush, whether you can even use expired makeup, and if makeup expires if its not opened. After reading this post, you'll know everything there is to know about the shelf life of blush.
This post is everything you need to know to understand how long does blush last.
*How Long Does Blush Last*
How Often Should You Replace Blush
Depending on the type of formula and consistency will determine how often should you replace your blush.
How Long Does Power Blush Last
Power blush lasts up to 2 years. In makeup expiration years, this is a super long time! The main reason why you need to replace your powder blush is because over time, the makeup brushes you constantly use on both your skin and in the product build up bacteria within the product. Therefore, it’s important to consistently clean your makeup brushes to reduce the spread of bacteria on your skin and makeup products.
How Long Does Cream Blush Last
Cream-based blush lasts up to six months to one year. This includes a cream blush palette or cream stick. Cream blush is great for applying a buildable pop of color to your face. However, a stick makes it easy for germs and bacteria to spread as you are often directly using it on the skin or holding the tube, exposing the product to bacteria. Therefore, always make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before applying any makeup.
How Long Does Liquid Blush Last
Liquid blush lasts up to six months to one year. Liquid blush is a great way to blend and apply a buildable pop of color to your face. Nonetheless, like the other blushes above, bacteria upon frequent use will increase your risk over time for unwanted breakouts or infection.
Can You Use Expired Blush
So… you’ve found that old powder blush shoved in the bottom of your makeup bag. Or, you have a makeup product that was a bit on the expensive side and don’t want to throw it out. This begs the question, can you use expired blush?
The Risks Of Using Expired Blush
Although it’s common to use makeup past its expiration date, it's not advised. Whether you forget how long you’ve had your blush, or weren’t aware that makeup could expire, it’s important to understand the risks associated with using expired makeup.
First, the blush will not work its “best” past its expiration date. Chances are the color can change or fade over time, not giving you that radiant pop of pink or red you were hoping for when you first bought the product. Likewise, the overall texture and consistency of the expired makeup could impact how the product sits and blends into the skin.
Next, using expired blush inevitably increases your exposure to germs and bacteria. This is because no matter if you are using a power, cream, or liquid blush, each type of product has its own unique way that increases your risk of germs. With a powder product, you consistently use makeup brushes to transfer the product onto your skin. Over time, if you don’t clean your makeup brushes properly, this heightens excess germs in the powder blush. With liquid and cream-based products, you are either using your fingers or hands and applying the product to your face. As a result, if you don’t properly wash your hands before applying, excess germs can accumulate on the product.
In the worst-case scenario, using an expired blush with excess bacteria can cause breakouts, skin irritation, infections, and rashes. Thus, it’s best to be safe and not use your product past its expiration date. If you have to guess how long that makeup has been tucked away in your bag, it’s best not to risk your skin’s health and opt to buy a new makeup product instead.
Ways To Know Your Makeup Has Expired
Regardless if you want to know if your opened blush is about to expire, or any other makeup product, here are some things to look for when determining how to tell when your makeup has expired.
Check The Label Of The Makeup Product
Most makeup products will have a label that tells you exactly how long the makeup product is good for. This label typically looks like a small jar with a number (denoting the length of time the product is good for) and the letter M (representing the number of months). Therefore, if you see a 24M on the back of your powder blush, this label is telling you that the product is good for 24 months. This label is specifically how long the makeup can last while opened because when opened it has been exposed to bacteria which over time lowers the quality of the product.
Does The Product Smell Off
If you notice an odd smell from the makeup product, this is a definite way to tell the product has expired. Therefore, a quick and easy way to tell if that makeup product shoved in your bag is expired, give it a quick sniff to see if it has a bad, unique-smelling odor.
Has The Color Changed
Next, if you notice the color of the makeup is off, it may be time to throw it out. A color change in makeup is a sign the product is oxidizing thanks to being exposed to the air. Thus, the longer your product has been opened, the more it's likely to be oxidized resulting in a color change that may be more brassey or orange. So, whether it be your bright pink blush has taken on an orange tone, it may be time to chuck your makeup product out.
Does Makeup Expire If Not Opened
Sometimes, whether you’re a makeup guru that likes to keep a stock of makeup, or are simply someone who doesn’t wear makeup very often, this can leave you with makeup products that have never been opened before. Thus, you may be curious, does makeup expire if not opened?
If you happen to have a fully sealed, unopened makeup product, you’re in for some good news (mostly)! Unopened makeup products tend to last longer and past their typical expiration date as long as they are properly stored in a cool, dry place. This is because the unopened makeup hasn’t been exposed to bacteria that can grow and spread over time upon opening a makeup product. For instance, if you have a power blush that’s opened, each and every time you use a makeup brush and transfer the product onto your skin, you are inevitably exposing your product to bacteria from your makeup brush itself, and on your face back onto the product. Yet, an unopened powder blush has the potential to last an extra year as it’s not exposed to bacteria.
Meanwhile, more cream-based products that has oils or butters can still go bad relatively the same if it is unopened. This is because the oils, butters, and other products that make the creamy product formula may not have a strong enough preservative to maintain the life of the product, even if it is an unopened makeup product.
It’s important to note that you should never keep a makeup product more than three years time, even if you haven’t ever opened it before. Better safe than sorry to buy a new product instead. You don't want to put yourself at unnecessary risk of using an extremely old makeup product!
Top Blushes To Try
Whether after reading this article you need to chuck your old blush and buy a new one, or are simply in need of a new makeup product to your collection, here are some blushes we LOVE. Even better, now you know all there is to know about the shelf life of blush to buy the right product for you and your lifestyle.
- This Nars Blush is a powder blush that has a super pretty peachy pink color with a hint of golden shimmer. This is sure to give you a naturally beautiful pop of color to your cheeks. This is our personal go-to blush because it is relatively light coverage making it easy to apply, blend, and build onto your cheeks. It's also a matte finish which is especially useful if you have oily skin and don’t want to overdo it with the glowy, dewy skin look.
- The Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm is another popular blush that is both a highlighter and blush. This gives you the perfect pop of color and highlight look all-in-one. This product comes in a liquid, cream form making it blendable and giving you a more glowy skin look. Also, who doesn’t love a super cute rosy cheek moment.
- The e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick is another versatile blush that is also super affordable coming in at just $5 on Amazon!! This makeup product comes in a tube/stick form for easy application. It also has more of a shimmery finish that will give you an extra sparkle to your makeup game. Even better, you can use this product as a blush, on your lips, and even as an eyeshadow. What’s not to love about this budget-friendly, versatile makeup product!?
This post was all about how long does blush last.
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