Learning to let go is never easy, especially if it means throwing away your favourite makeup. That awesome eye shadow, that every time you wear it people say “your eyes look amazing”… or the lipstick that you wore the first time you kissed your man…

It is tough, but you have to do it. Makeup has a shelf life, and once it’s passed it, you risk not only wearing old fashioned colours, but also infection and inflammation. So get rid of it.

Makeup relies on preservatives to stay good for a length of time. With exposure to air the preservatives break down, leaving your makeup susceptible to bacteria and all sorts of microbes and pathogens. Preservative free makeup is at even more risk.

If you’re wondering about your makeup, here’s a rough shelf-life guide –

• Mascara and eyeliner, of any type - 4 to 6 months
• Foundation and Concealer - 6 months to 1 year
• Powder and mineral based products - 2 to 3 years
• Lipstick, lip gloss and lip liner - 2 to 3 years

So next time your eyes are a bit puffy, it might not be from a late night. It could be that old eye shadow and its family of bacteria giving you the Garfield look. Why not use shelf life as an excuse to update your makeup collection? Check out the great deals at Celcius and get some new favourites.