
The worse enemy is mascara because it is dark and moist. The shelf life of mascara is 2-3 months. As for your eye pencil this will last longer the more you whittle it down removing the possibility of infection. But, don't forget to clean your sharpener. Liquid make-up usually has a shelf life of 10-12 months. Face powder and blush can last as long as 3 years because there is no water. But, whoever has make-up for that long? And finally, lipstick can last as long as 2-3 years.
There are a couple of ways to tell if the preservative is breaking down in your make-up. One is the sniff test - if it doesn't smell right then time to get rid of it or look for discoloration!
Time for me to clean out my make-up drawer!