When Does Mascara Expire?

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How to Tell If Your Mascara Has Expired May 24, 2022

By: Alanna Martine Kilkeary | Makeup.com by L'Oréal Person applying mascara

How to Tell If Your Mascara Is Expired

Smell

“You can tell a mascara has expired by smelling it,” says Velasquez. “If it smells bad, you know it’s time to throw it away.”

Color and Texture

He explains that it’s also important to pay attention to the color and texture of your mascara. If the formula has separated, is dry or comes off the wand in clumps, it’s probably time to replace it.

Eye Health

The eyes are extremely sensitive, so using an expired formula may lead to irritation. “Using expired mascara can cause eye infections, such as pink eye or a stye, which can affect your vision long term,” says Velasquez.

How to Prevent Mascara From Expiring

While there’s not much you can do to keep your mascara from expiring, Velasquez notes that you should change out your mascara every three months, even if it seems to be working well.

Because a regular-sized mascara typically lasts longer than three months, we recommend purchasing smaller-size tubes or trying out drugstore options to save money.

Not sure which mascara to try? We’ve been loving the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara.