In Him

I am a part of the huge Flylady.net group.  I follow her principles in my own little way.  I received this email the other day and thought I’d share as it’s one that may apply to alot of people (unlike myself, I don’t actually wear makeup).

Dear Flylady,

As this week’s mission is the bathroom, I think I need to share a
story and add a request to the week… at least twice a year. Please
toss old make up.

A few months ago, my face broke out in little itchy bumps along one
cheek. This moved around my face a while, and stopped over one eye.
My eye became puffy; my eyelashes itched. I broke down and went to
the doctor, who told me that the culprit was an infection caused by
old makeup. I had to toss everything out, give my face a rest, take
meds, and go to the expense of buying everything all over again. (Not
entirely unpleasant, until I got to the check out line.)

Anyway, could you suggest to the other FlyBbabies that they throw out
their old makeup? Unlike food, makeup doesn’t tend to look or smell
spoiled, so we tend to hold on to it for months… and then years. This
isn’t good for us. New makeup can get cross contaminated by the
microbes in the older creams, powders, mascaras that we keep around.
Older makeup actually drags our face down, clogs our pours, makes us
look older, and can, as in my case, infect our skin.

Thanks!
FlyBaby B

Kelly here: I am so sorry that this FlyBaby learned this lesson..but
we can all thank her for sharing her story.

So…..take a few minutes and head to the bathroom right now..and
start tossing. Don’t get caught up in what you spent or how you might use it in the future..toss it….don’t end up with some kind of infection from old makeup!!!!

Here is the link to Real Simple Magazine’s website and their information about how long to keep make up and other products.

Beauty Expiration Dates
Your products won’t last forever, but here’s a comprehensive list of cosmetics and how long you can expect to keep them

Anti-aging and acne treatments: Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.

Body lotion: Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.

Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel: About three years.

Bath oil: One year.

Sunscreen: Check the package for an expiration date.

Mascara and liquid eyeliner: Three to four months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.

Eye and lip pencils: Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.

Lipstick and lip gloss: Two to three years.

Foundation: About two years. Most bottles are designed to last that long. And if you don’t use it, chances are you didn’t love it to begin with.

Perfume: About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, resist the temptation to display a pretty bottle on your vanity. Instead, stash it away in a cool, dark place.

Nail polish: One year.

Hairstyling products: Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.

Bar soap: Up to three years.

Shaving cream: About two years.

Deodorant: Up to two years.