TWIMO Thrifty Tip: Expiration Dates

Hello, dear TWIMO-ers (aka Loren L. as I'm convinced you are my only reader. This one goes out to you!) Today I'm going to share with you some helpful tips on expiration dates that I have recently learned about as I am trying to do a major purge of my apartment. Yesterday I decided to tackle the bathroom and started to feel guilty as I was throwing away copious amounts of expired makeup, medicine, and beauty products, so I decided to look up what expiration dates on said products really mean. Here's what my dear friend the Internet taught me:

Makeup:

Powders: Most items that are power based will last up to 2-3 years (aka you should all use bareminerals like me, so you have flawless skin)
Lipsticks and glosses: If they smell bad or are gloppy pitch 'em. They say they last up to a year, but I'm cheap so as long as it doesn't taste bad I use it.
Nail polish: NEVER EXPIRES. It may get goopy, but you can use nail polish thinner to revive it. Available at beauty supply stores. Now I did get rid of some of this as sometimes the colors do fade.
Creams/Lotions: Many creams have stuff that will go bad in them, so the Internet suggests about a year.
Eyeshadow: Powder based will last longer, but cream eyeshadows are about a year. Be careful with eye stuff as it can harbor bacteria and NEVER share.
Mascara: Replace this puppy every 3-6 months as that tube is like the baby wing of the hospital for bacteria. I recommend Stila Major Lash Mascara for $8. Doesn't break the bank and it makes my baby blues pop.

Medicine:


Liquids should be pitched if they are expired, but according to Harvard most pills are fine for up to a decade after their expiration date. They may not be as potent, but they won't kill you. If you rely on the medicine for preservation of life, I recommend following the expiration date. Who knew??

Well, I hope this helps you with your next medicine cabinet purge. It certainly saved a few of my products from an otherwise ill-fated demise.