Is your mascara clumpy? Your liquid foundation thickening? Can’t remember
what year you bought your half-used lipstick?

Skin doctors say your old makeup could be causing you blemishes or even
worse—a dangerous infection.

“Most women do have a drawer full of cosmetics that have been partially
used,” said Angela Bowers, MD, dermatologist at Baylor Regional Medical Center.
Those old makeup containers may be full of more than just powder. They could be
harboring dangerous bacteria.

So how do you know when to throw them out? “It’s difficult to know because
cosmetics usually don’t include expiration dates,” said Dr. Bowers.

Experts say you should go by the date when you first opened the makeup. Eye
makeups and liquid foundations last the least amount of time and should be
tossed out after just 3 months.

“The bacteria can get in there and the preservatives might not be working
quite as well as they were when you first opened it. If you get some of that in
your eye, you may develop conjunctivitis which we know as ‘pink-eye,’” said Dr.
Bowers. Old makeup can irritate the skin and cause little red bumps that look
like acne.

In addition to makeup, makeup applicators should be replaced regularly as
well.

“If you use sponges to apply makeup, you should replace those at least once a
week,” said Dr. Bowers. It may be painful for most women to throw out expensive
products, but not doing so could hurt worse.

“If you end up in the doctor’s office with an infection, all those savings
are negated. You always want to have a clean face with some good, fresh product
on there,” she said.

Also, sharing lipsticks is another way that makeup can cause health problems.
Sharing lipsticks, lip glosses or lip balms with someone who may have a strain
of the herpes virus could leave you with cold sores of your own. Remember,
people can harbor this particular virus on their lips without having an active
cold sore so it will not always be visible.

Best advice: If makeup looks old or changes texture or has an unusual smell,
throw it out.