Everything on the earth, whether living or nonliving, has an expiry date. When we talk about makeup products, some people say that they do not expire because of the higher amounts of preservatives and processed ingredients present in them.
Now the question that comes is-
Do eyeshadows expire?
Yes, eyeshadow does expire. It generally has the lifespan of three months to 2 years from the date of manufacturing. It also depends on the type of eyeshadow it is and brand that manufactures it. It is never advised to use expired makeup products such as eyeshadow and can be extremely harmful for the skin as well as for the eyes.
Different types of eyeshadow have different expiry
Powdered eyeshadow
As the name suggests this eyeshadow comes in the form of a powder and is used by people who are just beginners at makeup.
It blends perfectly with the skin and comes in different types to give a different kind of finish to the makeup that includes matte, shimmer, glitter, and gloss.
Powder eyeshadow does not usually expire for 2 to 3 years.
Liquid eyeshadow
These are used mostly by makeup experts due to their drooling nature. Give a bright and dramatic finish to create a portrait worthy look. It is the one that completely transforms the look of your face.
These have an expiry between 3 months to 2 years after it is manufactured.
Cream eyeshadow
This is the easiest to apply as it is in the form of a cream that can be applied using a finger for the people who don’t know how to use a brush. It has an intense colour and high pigmentation but needs to be stored very carefully in a dry and cool place.
Cream eyeshadow also has a lifespan of 3 months to 2 years but it is advised not to use it after 6 months of its opening. This is because these are the most prone to oxidation and photogenic reactions.
Loose pigment eyeshadow
It is a pigment form of eyeshadow that is created using loose powder.
These have a lifespan of 2 months to 3 years and are used by professionals.
Do eyeshadow expire?
The eye shadows do expire just like any other makeup product. It just depends on the type of eyeshadow it is and of what ingredients it is made of. One needs to keep a check on the expiry date of the eyeshadow.
Whatever the expiry date may be the eyeshadow should not be used after six months or at maximum one year after it is opened. This is because the preservatives present in the eye shadow are liable to break down reactions that are not good for skin.
The opened eyeshadow is indirectly exposed to the environment even when it is air tightly sealed, which enhances the rate of decomposition and oxidation reactions that change the chemistry of the ingredients present in them.
As a result the ingredients that were meant to give a good finish or qualities to the make up end up damaging the skin.
Especially the cream or liquid based eyeshadows must not be used after six months of their packaging as they are already high in the rate of decomposition reactions.
If you see that your powdered eyeshadow is fading or becoming hard and difficult to blend it should not be used for others whatever the expiry date may be.
What happens to eyeshadow when it expires?
Eyeshadow generally expires between 3 months to 3 years of its manufacturing date.
During or after this period the consistency of eyeshadow changes that decreases the look they tend to create when they are officially opened or manufactured.
Most of the items are liquid or cream based and they dry out as time goes by. They start getting clumpy and cannot be applied smoothly. Even the dry or powdered eyeshadows begin to harden and are difficult to blend and apply to the skin.
After the eyeshadow is opened, it is in contact with environmental factors such as heat, cold, moisture and humidity by one way or the other.
This makes vate exposed to these factors that speed up the rate of decomposition of its ingredients and decrease the nature of the preservatives.
The eye shadow is thus not in its natural or original form and tends to degrade its properties that are not good for the skin and can cause inflammation and reactions.
Why should the expired eyeshadow not be used?
Eyes are the most sensitive organ of the body and one needs to be extremely careful when applying any products in the eye area.
Eyeshadow is a durable and long lasting makeup product but one should not use it if it is near the date of expiry for more than 6 to 8 months.
Below are the reasons why an expired eyeshadow should not be used-
Irritation and redness
This is the most common and obvious consequence of using expired or highly exposed makeup products. Because their chemicals get degraded, they tend to cause irritation in the eye area that causes redness of the skin around the eyes.
Inflammation
The excessive irritation on the skin causes the molecules to break down. This causes inflammation of the skin that can turn the redness into rashes, blisters, swelling, and bumps.
Growth of bacteria
The expired eyeshadow can be a breeding ground for the growth of bacteria. When there is irritation or bumps or blisters on the skin, it attracts oil and dirt from the environment that act as magnets for the spores of immature bacteria that grow on your skin. This can further cause infections and pink eyes.
Final words
It thus becomes clear that no matter what an expired eyeshadow should never be used.
The exact expiry date is rarely mentioned on the packaging of the eye shadow but one should know that it should not be used after one year of its manufacturing although it is safe to use for 2 years.