Beauty products do not last forever, despite the fact that you may have a seven year old patch of eye color in your purse. Keeping a beauty product past its prime can mean unhealthy bacteria build up, loss of the effects the product is supposed to offer, loss of fragrance and color the product is supposed to have, and poorer product performance overall. Some beauty products can be kept in the refrigerator in order to help extend their life just as we do with food. Still, there are times when you need to be able to let go of a product and toss it, usually for your own safety.

Concealers and foundations can last anywhere from a year to two years, depending upon the type of concealer and foundation you have. The loose and pressed powder forms are able to last for up to two years because they are less of a place for bacteria to develop and you have no worry of them drying out (as they are already dry).

For liquid concealers or cover sticks, a year is usually the limit. When it comes to oil-based liquid foundation, you should be able to get a year and a half out of it. Because it will tend to separate out from the oils, you should be sure to give it a shake before using in order to mix it up again. Water-based foundations will last a little less; up to a year.

Eye liners, lip liners, and eye color are able to last up to three years. Make sure to keep your eye liners and lip liners sharpened; this will give you smoother application and keep bacteria from building up on it. You will want to keep bacteria away from your eyes and mouth as much as possible.

Cleaners, either in cream form or gel form tend to last about a year. After this time they may lose their potency and ability to clean your face efficiently.

Brushes can last a long time as long as you keep them clean. Try washing them every couple of months with a mild detergent to keep them bacteria free, as well as without color in case you tend to use the same brush for multiple colors. A sponge should be washed more often, such as weekly, but they can be difficult to fully clean and as they are also easily replaceable, you should get rid of them after a month or so.

Lipstick tends to have an agreed shelf life of around two years. If it smells strange any point in time before the two years are up, immediately throw it out. Be sure to wash lip brushes often if you use those instead. Lip gloss can also be kept for up to two years. Again, if you notice anything strange about it you should throw it out.

A moisturizer can be a tricky one. Some may last as little as three months whereas others can last up to a year. Oftentimes the ingredients as well as storage conditions will determine how good your moisturizer is as time goes by. Moisturizers in clear, plastic containers that are stored in warm or sunlit areas will lose their power much quicker than others.

Likewise, if a moisturizer has oils or botanicals, it can go bad more quickly. You may keep your moisturizer in the refrigerator, but do not put them in the freezer as this may only damage or separate out the ingredients, thus making the moisturizer completely ineffective.

Nail polish can last for up to two years, possibly longer if you store it in your refrigerator. Once the color and oil starts to separate out, you should keep an eye on it. Sometimes you can get it work by shaking it up, but if they refuse to mix or separate out quickly after shaking, it is time to get a new polish.

Then there is the beauty product with the shortest shelf life: mascara. Mascara should be thrown away after around four months because of its tendency to easily harbor bacteria.