Once upon a time, probably in '88 or so, I got a present from my cousin who lived then in Boston(I lived yet in USSR)-amazing eyeshadow eh..thing-y. I abused it like crazy.

Then at some point as I became older I stopped abusing it. Then using it.

But I think I finally threw it away(and with a heavy heart too) only in 2010 when I moved to CA.

So if something is less than 10 years old-I know it's probably too old, but I'll use it. Sadly. Will sadly, sadly use it. Lol.

Most food and makeup don't have "expiration" dates. They have "best used by" dates. I'm sorry, but this talk of non existant "expiration" dates drives me crazy, abd is the cause of so much food (and makeup) waste!

http://healthland.time.com/2013/09/18/is-your-food-expired-dont-be-so-quick-to-toss-it/

I’m in the “if I haven’t used it in a year, I toss it” camp. For almost everything.

I use it until it's all gone regardless of how old it is. Unless I decide I will never use it - then I will toss it out. Some of my make up could be 35 years old - it hasn't hurt me yet.

Terriks, I’m pretty much with you on that, but sometimes things are just toooooo old. I don’t mind using old makeup, but honestly, when I rarely wear lipstick why do I have 10 sticks, as much as 26 years old (because I know one is from my wedding!) Out they go. I did keep my Burt’s Bees, they are quiiiiite as old. My mascaras weren’t quite that old, but I almost never wear it, just liner, so I kept only the unopened one.

If it touches near my eyes I tend to throw out faster. If it starts to have an odor (even kinda sweet) it goes. I generally use what I use and if I don't like something I bought get rid of it. I do tend to have more than needed of cosmetics. Foundation and mascara should go first IMO

I use mine up. But, I don't wear liquid foundation. I imagine that would start to change in color and velocity.

Sadly, eld, all my makeup has lost its velocity, even freshly out of its packaging...

I don't purchase a lot of different makeup items. I have favorite brands and colors and have never been much interested in filling my bureau drawers with experiments. So, my products are used up pretty quickly. But I would never use old makeup of any kind on my face, eyes, or lips.

Most of mine I use until it’s gone. Some exceptions are lipsticks and some eyeshadows, which sadly sit in the drawer too long, so I routinely sniff the lipsticks and toss if they smell. I am religious about keeping up with when I change to a new mascara. I even keep a list of when I start a new one.

Eyeshadows or any other products I use on the face or around the eyes are tossed if they have been in the drawer over a year or so. If unopened, I sometimes keep it around longer or just put it in the donate bag for the women’s shelter.

I am about to take on that project for everything in the bathroom. We need to redo our bathroom and I want to take inventory on what kind of space we really need and want for different kinds of things so we can make it work better. Once I do that, the only thing holding us up will be deciding whether to keep the tub location or move it. I'm looking forward to the end product -- but not either of these two projects or the work of actually getting it done. If we hadn't done the kitchen, I think I'd just move. But the kitchen is part of the reason I dread doing the bathroom -- I know what's coming. But I digress....

I toss mascara more frequently than just about anything else even though I don't wear it often. I also do a clean out and clean brushes well or toss if I have had any eye problems. Other than that, it's a question of whether there has been a color change, odor change (I notice rancid oils in some products that seem fine) or change in texture/separation or I have lost interest and will not use it again. I know some people write dates on makeup and have a tossing schedule, but I don't go that far.

My skin is aging so rapidly, I’m more likely to toss something just because I blame it for whatever is bothering me this week. For example, I used to love Urban Decay eye pencils. Then I started to have a hard time using them because (1) my eyelids are 55 years old plus (2) I can’t see up close any more. These days I hardly use any eye makeup except for mascara but sometimes I will do a quick swipe of Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier eye crayon, which is easier to use for me.

I also have a rule for myself that my makeup inventory can’t exceed the space allowed by one shelf in my medicine cabinet. (It’s not a large cabinet!) So I only hold onto essentials that I really use and like. If I haven’t used something up in a year, it usually means it’s not working for me, so it gets tossed.

Most cosmetic items last a long time except mascara or liquid eyeliner. You can tell when lipstick and foundations are bad, they smell weird and the texture changes. I have eye shadows and blushes that I have had for many many years and are just as good today as when I bought them. I will buy eye shadows that I love that I know are going to be discontinued and stock up on them so I will have them many years until I use them up. I think it's ridiculous that everyone is going around throwing perfectly good merchandise in the trash. Unless you know you will never use it because it didn't work in the first place, they will usually stay good until you use them up. The cosmetic companies want you to throw them away so you will have to go buy new.

Arkansas girl, I figure that even if the lipstick and mascara were still good, if I wasn’t using them anymore and hadn’t so many years, I may as well toss it.

4amblues, yes, you know it, girl! (Well, I did have to rewet it, but not wash.)

Gosh I have makeup that’s 10 years old. Mainly (powder- not sure how I’d feel about cream) blush, lipstick, lip liners, and eyeshadow and they’re fine. I’ve used them recently and they‘re fine. I tend to select certain products and I’ll use almost the same thing for a long period of time then I’ll switch some things up. Depends on the season and my mood. I have liquid foundations that are a few years (2 or so) and it’s still fine too. I don’t know if I’d use 10 year old Iiquid. I use everything else up pretty fast.

If you have really sensitive skin it may not be a great idea but I find it wasteful to toss stuff every few months or even every year.

I toss mascara every 3 months and if I haven't used up any type of face or skin product in one year out it goes. I have had reactions to old products several times. Sunscreen is tossed at the end of the season and rebought in the spring. My BB cream which I use instead of foundation has 30 SPF but I use that up pretty quickly. My skin is sensitive but I know others who have normal skin and have had bad reactions to old products. I also believe that most stuff we own that we keep just because we spent money on should be passed on or tossed. It takes mental energy just to have it filling our closets and drawers. It's not easy but it is freeing.

My makeup takes up half a drawer. Half of it (the make up), i don't use because it was sent to me as part of a promotion or something. Little lipsticks, ( I don't use lipsticks anymore, only lip gloss/balm), bronzers, stuff like that..But it's a pity to throw them away, somehow. They're not opened and look new. Which they are, Waste of good stuff on me..Some, I can give to my DD, otherwise I don't know what to do with them.

I also have a very sensitive skin, so I get attached to certain products only, and change it only if I suspect I became allergic to them.

Creams, yes, I'd be using them all up, takes me time. Face cream..some last half a year, but some couple years.

Blush, eyeshadows, also..it just takes me several years to finish them. They somehow never end..And I do use them. They just don't end. What can I say.

@aprilneverends, give unopened samples to a woman's shelter like Laura's House in Ladera Ranch.

April, I almost never use up shadow, either. well, not anymore, anyway, because I hardly wear it. Blush, I almost always wear the same one so I use it up. seems to take a while, though.

Great idea, Fun2BHere, thanks. Had no idea of their existence. I'll google them, call them and ask what's needed besides.

oh they have a detailed list..even better (sorry for the OT)

I only toss mascara. I have sent unopened samples (like Clinique gifts) to a women's shelter. Everything else will go to the grave with me.

Powder makeups like eye shadow, blush, etc. seem to last longer than things with water or oils in them. I have powder/mineral foundation and concealer and never dip my fingers or tools directly into the jars.

Moisture can foster bacterial growth & I've noticed old lipsticks can get thick & sticky, as the oils in them apparently get rancid.