Liners
When to throw: Eyeliners and lipliners last two to three years in pencil form, about a year in liquid or gel form
Why they spoil: Sharpening your pencils regularly shaves away bacteria-ridden surfaces caused by the nibs coming into direct contact with the skin
Check for a mushy nib.
Tip: Keep your pencils in a cool, dry place.
Perfumes
When to throw: Fragrances, aside from the alcohol-free ones, last between a year-and-half to two years. Alcohol-free fragrances should be used up as soon as possible. Sprays are airtight and keep well, while solid perfumes, roll-ons and dab-ons - which are more exposed to air, bacteria and fingers - tend to go bad much faster
Why they spoil: Heat and light can change the chemistry of perfumes
Check for Cloudy liquids
Tip: Aside form stoning fragrances in a cool, dark place (like your wardrobe), keep the bottles in their original boxes, or store them in the fridge.
Eyeshadows
When to throw: Powder eyeshadows last up to three years, while cream shadows rarely make it beyond 18 months.
Why they spoil: Applications - whether you use sponge applications, brushes or your fingers - cause contamination to eye makeup by being carriers of bacteria from the skin to eyeshadows.
Check for Powder eyeshadows drying out and getting clumpy and hard-to-spread; cream shadows might �sweat' and grow a whitish mould
Tip: Fingers ten to be carriers of bacteria. Don't dip directly; scrape a tiny portion out with a clean spatula onto the back of your hand, then blend with your fingers.
Mascaras
When to throw: Anything between three to six months, but the creamier the formulation, the faster it turns
Why they spoil: The manual pumping action of the mascara wand in the tube introduces bacteria into the mascara, and speeds contamination
Check for A sour odour, clumpy consistency and dried-out bits.
Tip: Use one tube of mascara at a time. You'll lower the risk of contamination
Foundations
When to throw: Compact foundations last up to two years; liquid foundations under a year.
Why they spoil: Foundations contain a high amount of liquid, which makes them spoil quicker than most other makeup products. Oil-free foundations, on the other hand, dry out before others.
Check for A funky smell, or when the emulsion separates into a thin, two-phase liquid
Tip: Pick those with airtight pump dispensers
Blushers
When to throw: Powder blushers after two years, your cream blushers after a year-and-a-half, and liquid blushers in a few months
Why they spoil: Cream or liquid blushers tend to spoil faster than powder types
Check for Cakiness, mould, or a watery consistency
Tip: Cleanse blusher brushes with mild soap or facial cleanser at least once a week.
Lip Products
When to throw: Lipsticks in about 18months to two years. Lip-glosses in about a year to 18 months
Why they spoil: The applicator touches your lips then you stick it back into the tube
Check for When they change colour or become dry and flaky
Tip: Place a dollop of lipstick/gloss on the back of your hand, then use a lip brush or your fingers to apply product to your lips from the dollop