Ladies, lets have a show of hands here.
How many of you abide by the “Toss your mascara after 3 months” rule? This is a “makeup rule” that we’ve been indoctrinated with and have had it drummed into us for so long its become “the norm”. The primary reason, we’re told, is that this is to protect our eyes, and prevent infections.
This “3 month rule” is also the reason for many people to go with a pharmacy or drugstore brand mascara. What’s the use of buying a more expensive mascara (never mind that it may look nicer) if we’re just going to toss it after 3 months anyway right? It’d be a waste of money! There’s a lot of truth in all that.
So come on, don’t be shy – Do you toss your mascara after 3 months? Even if its not gone bad or dried out? 🙂
Well I have a confession. I don’t 🙂
I never have, to be honest. I mean, I know the general rule and all that but I feel loathe to toss a product that is still working well just because its “the norm”. Its a waste of money too. Being a bit of a conspiracy theorist, I felt that this was a major conspiracy by the cosmetics companies to make us spend more money on mascara. I know right? I also believe in aliens and UFOs 😛 I usually toss my mascara only when its dried out or doesn’t work anymore.
Well, I’ve got one more thing to support my argument for not tossing out your mascara after 3 months – the cosmetics companies tell you you don’t have to! But how many of you notice this? 😉
I’ve picked at random, some high end and pharmacy/drugstore brand mascaras and the minimum and average life span for a mascara that I see, is 6 months from date of opening. Its that symbol of an open tub that you will see on most packaging. The number inside tells you how many months you have from date of opening before it is considered expired, and they all say 6M barring the Shiseido one that weighs in at a staggering 24M! That’s 2 years! Actually, my Shiseido Perfect Mascara has been going strong and its been with me a while and is only now starting to dry out (no trouble in all this time).
However, despite the clear marking on the packaging, we are still being told to toss our mascara after 3 months. Well, I say, lets wise up for a moment, step back and look at things objectively. The case for NOT tossing your mascara after 3 months is manifold:-
- The companies suggest a minimum of a 6 month lifespan from date of opening
- If you are the only person using the mascara (and you should NOT be sharing mascara please) and do not have an eye infection, there is no reason to assume that using it longer than 3 months will give you an eye infection
- Technology has moved on and we should expect the product to be of better quality and last longer
- If the mascara is not dried out, its a waste of money to toss it.
However, if you have an eye infection I will suggest you toss any mascara you are then using during your eye infection, because it could well be contaminated. But if your eyes are fine and the mascara is working fine and not dried out, don’t waste your money. Look at the box/packaging. Think about things and see if its logical for you to just blindly abide by a “general rule” or if you should just go with your gut 😉
What say you, Ladies? Do you currently toss your mascara after 3 months? Will you change this habit after this, or will you still stick to the 3 month rule? My personal habit is why I don’t mind splurging on a higher end mascara that works (RMK and Shiseido are 2 I will readily replenish despite the cost) because they last, my lashes look impressively good, and I don’t toss them out after 3 months anyway 🙂
Paris B
Hanny Daforcena says
I used to have that habit, until one time when I forgot to replace mine after the third month and nothing happened. I actually use them until I really cannot get anything out from them anymore! ^.^ That being said, I’ve yet to venture to high street mascaras because there’s still many offered in drugstores!
I now use a combo of mascaras. The drugstore one for FOTDs mainly and a high street one for going out/Uni when I know that I need it to perform. Sometimes I even use both of them to get the false lash effect.
Am currently loving Benefit They’re Real though! *Waves at Lily at the comment above* THANK YOU AM STILL USING THE ONE YOU GAVE ME ^.^
Paris B says
“I used to have that habit, until one time when I forgot to replace mine after the third month and nothing happened.”
I chuckled when I read that. It was like you were expecting your hair to fall out or your eyes to explode! LOL 😀 I’ve heard so MUCH about Benefit’s They’re Real mascara that I’m going to have to try it and see if they will flatter these shorty lashes o’ mine! LOL! 😀
Hanny says
Actually I did HAHAHA ^.^
You should go try them out! heh heh. They really work wonders.
Lisa says
No. My mascaras usually last a year.
As long as it doesn’t dry or smell,I use them.
Paris B says
Sounds pretty much like what we’re all doing here! Yay for no wastage (and mine last about a year too and I thought I was breaking a billion rules 😉 )
Mira says
I would never toss out my mascara, unless I’ve finished it or it have dried out. I never got any eye infection and I never share my mascara with anyone, so I think it’s safe. Plus, wouldn’t want to waste it since high-end mascaras cost a lot. ^^
Paris B says
Exactly! I find that higher end mascara tend to last longer and not dry out so quickly. Which ones do you use, Mira? Dior? 😀
giddy tigress says
I’m like you, PB. I don’t toss out mascara until it’s all dried out. But I sometimes forget about the “opened and used by date” at the back. That being said, I do adhere strictly to that logo for all my skincare and makeup products 🙂
Paris B says
You’re way better than I am GT, I don’t even abide by that rule for skincare much less makeup! The former I use till its finished or turns bad whichever comes first and the latter well, I can’t remember the last time I finished any makeup, actually! 😛
derkal23 says
My mascaras don’t usually dry out but since i am living in a very humid weather condition (Turkey) I use my mascaras until they smell out of ordinary (I am a chemist and I know the smell but I can’t get the right name for it lol!) because if I don’t mind the weird smell and continue using it, my eyes get all itchy and blurry. So, I don’t mind the 3 month (by the way I thought it was a 4-month-rule!) rule I use it until it loses its consistency in anyway 🙂
Paris B says
Ah! We probably have similar weather here in Malaysia except I think its even more humid here 😀 I think its great that you’re a chemist and you can tell when it smells off and better yet, that you use the smell test! 😀 Actually, I wasn’t even aware there was a rule but people kept preaching it to me that they toss their mascara after 3 months and I read it in a mag too.
derkal23 says
I love to read about makeup stuff in the magazines but I don’t always listen to them. I believe that if something is working, there is no need to fix it 🙂 I try to read the instructions and follow the jar rule (12M, 24M stuff) for liquid, cream stuff but 3 month is really a short term, I believe. Also, I heard that the more you push and pull your brush during the makeup the more it gets oxygen in it and mascara decades faster. If I once opened my mascara but never used it since, I keep it in a humid free place and use it when its time comes.
By the way I am a new reader and loved your blog 🙂
Paris B says
Yes! The tip about not pumping the mascara wand in the tube is definitely worth noting because that will introduce air and bacteria. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and I hope to see you around more! 😀
giddy tigress says
Oh, my one exception would probably be lipstick though, since I hardly use it. I have tons of lipstick sitting in my “Lipstick box” waiting to be used. I’ve given many away to my Mom but there are still many waiting their turn! LOL
Stacey says
I don’t throw out my mascaras after three months, because I don’t use them everyday, so I found them still usable after the 3 months mark. I will smell the formula to check if it’s funky before each use.
There are mascaras that I think I have kept for close to a yr, that I don’t use but I have yet to chuck out. Time for spring cleaning session this weekend!
Paris B says
Haha I have one still going strong coming close to a year. Doesn’t even smell funky and still works well. Needless to say, its the Shiseido one so maybe that 24 month expiry period holds some water! 😉
Jen says
What do you mean three months? I had my mascara for 1 1/2 years now and it’s still working fine!
-Just kidding! Lol 😀
Anyway, this post is very helpful! Thanks for sharing this especially the ‘open tub label’ cause I never knew what it was until now! 🙂
Paris B says
Glad you found the tip about the tub useful, Jen! I have mascara that’s almost a year old that’s working fine too. But maybe that’s about as long as I should be using it eh? 😉
Tracy says
Haha I <3 you Paris! 🙂 I don't toss them because of how long it's been opened, for me it's more about whether I hate it, or whether I like it. If I hate it it goes sooner. If I like it, I keep it around for awhile. And also boredom I guess. I get bored with mascaras!
Paris B says
Aww I <3 you too Tracy! :D I know what you mean about hating or loving mascara. If I hate it and rarely use it, might as well bin it. No point prolonging it and my misery :P I don't get bored with mascara though - I get immune. I can use the same one everyday and not realise it >.<
MizzAyna says
I thought I’m the only one who use mascara more than 3 months, haha =D since i usually spend my hard earn money on my fav Benefit (badgal @ they’re real) mascara, I hate to waste it just after 3 months period like everyone else coz usually it can last me up to 8 months!!! and now i can do it without feeling guilty, thanks paris, lol =)
Paris B says
Isn’t it great to know that we’re all not alone but worried that we are with our strange habits? 😉 Here’s another rave for They’re Real mascara! I seriously have to try it now!
Swati says
i had heard that both eye liners and mascara should be tossed out after 3 months but many people complain that more than half of the product is left unused by then…doesn’t make sense when going for high-end products!!!
Paris B says
I fully agree – if its not used up and still ok, I don’t see a point tossing it. With eyeliners, I use a pencil one mostly so sharpening it takes care of all the bad bacteria stuff! 😉
Sukie says
Guilty as charged! I’m not a big mascara user so mine lasts quite a while! My Lancôme Hypnose one has been sitting on my dresser for the past 8 months now and it’s still going strong. Hehe no I have not suffered from an infection… Yet! *touches wood*
Paris B says
LOL all the deep dark secrets are coming out now! 😉 I didn’t like Hypnose though but good to know that its working well for you 🙂
Amanda says
I use mascara everyday so they dry out even before they’re 3 months old 🙂
Paris B says
Gah! how do you do it Amanda?! I’ve tried using just one tube daily but even after 3 months its still going strong!
gio says
For me, it depends on how much I like or dislike the mascara. If it doesn’t work that well, I’ll toss it in the bin after 3 months, otherwise, I’ll use it for 6. I have to really love a mascara to use it for longer than that. I guess I get bored with them easily.
Paris B says
Haha! Sounds like me except I don’t get bored 😀
Petrina Alescna says
I’ve never tossed out a mascara less than 6 months – normally use em until theyve dried up or I’m fed up with them!! I’ve never used a high end mascara I like coz they all smudge on me! Only Jap mascara will do (kiss me vol n curl!!).
I don’t toss out my lippies either! Not for a good few years at least 🙂 there ate cosmetic disinfectants but I’m too lazy to try them!
Paris B says
Japanese make excellent mascara especially for Asian lashes! I sometimes find they add too much fibre like Majolica Majorca so it can really irritate my eyes. As for lippies, I don’t toss either till they start smelling really weird.
Sunny says
To be honest I don’t really keep track, but I know I can’t go on using a mascara till it’s really dried out, because my eyes are sensitive (they start itching and my lids feel heavy, if you now what I mean). I never really counted how long it takes for that to happen however, and the thing is at the moment I have so many tubes open I don’t really think I’ll need to toss all of them out after 3 months. I don’t use any of them nearly often enough! I think ultimately there should be some kind of leeway. I was also surprised when I found out it’s actually 6 months, and not 3 on the back of most packaging!
Paris B says
Its puzzling isn’t it, to see the 6M sign and then have people tell you its 3 months to toss LOL! I don’t keep track either but once I pull out the brush and its hard to apply on my lashes, its usually a good sign that its time to toss it out 🙂
Raquel M. says
I have never!! I only toss it out when it doesn’t work anymore, like you… It really pains me to see people throw things out like that, it’s like losing money. And how I hate that! X)
And I’d noticed the signs before… Even then, I only throw it out when I know it doesn’t work for me anymore, even if it’s past the 6 months or whatever number of months the product says :p
Paris B says
I agree with you Raquel! Tossing out a mascara before its even dried out or bad is a right waste of money. I just found out that there are people advocating 6 weeks use too. 6 weeks! Its ridiculous!
yee says
Nope, I definitely won’t toss out mine cos well…it’s bought from hard earned money! Also, I’ve always wondered what those little tub symbols meant…at first I thought they could be indicating the volume or something but it didn’t really made sense haha.
Paris B says
I think that tub symbol now deserves a post of its own 😀 I honestly thought everyone knew what it meant but its good to know that you learnt something new today 😀
Shay says
Mine is abt 6 months, thereabouts. I normally throw them out when i start to have uneven coats of mascara or i spend too much time combing out lumbs.
My lashes are quite full and long. So, I have not used any high end mascras before as drugstore stuff works fine for me. In fact, any masacara that allows me to define and hold up my lashes looking natural works fine. It’s quite easy to overdo. Especially if the mascara is thickening/drying out. So I probably toss them slightly ahead of their time.
Paris B says
Ahh lucky you, Shay to have long full lashes! You don’t need anything dramatic then, because anything will make it look dramatic! 😀 In my case, I need the ones that add volume and hold a curl else I might as well not bother 😛
Megan says
I’ve been known to keep mascaras for longer than three months as I find I like them better as they dry out since when they’re brand new they’re often too wet and don’t give me the volume I’m chasing. I will toss them if I get irritated eyes but in all the years I’ve been wearing mascara I’ve had one eye infection in all that time and I wear contacts so it was more than likely from those and not the mascara. i don’t see anything wrong with keeping them longer.
Paris B says
I agree with you totally, Megan! I prefer to use mascara that’s slightly drier too. I find many are just too wet and clumpy when they are new but once they dry out a little, it works so much better. I think its a matter of personal comfort too. If we’ve had a scare with an eye infection, we’re more likely to be careful 🙂
Sze Ling says
I throw mine after 6 month or when it dries out, whichever comes first. 😉 I check the little tub markings on all my skincare items, but never occur to me to check my cosmetics too. Oops… 😛
Paris B says
I think the only thing you’d really be checking for expiry is mascara. Other makeup shouldn’t expire all that soon 😉