Do You Have a System for Tracking How Old Your Makeup Is and How Long You’ve Had It?

Question for you — do you have a system for tracking how old your makeup is and how long you’ve had it?

I’ve had this brewing in my mind for the past couple days because I just bought a few new things last weekend from Sephora (more on this in a few!).

So, true confessions, but I’ve never strictly adhered to the expiration guidelines posted on makeup and beauty products, but I want try doing it for a bit. I tend to hang onto things for too long — not just literally with makeup, but in various other aspects of my life as well — and I’m ready to change that.

My hope is that if I actually use those expiration dates as a guide, maybe I’ll be motivated to finish the stuff I already have. (And it would also be an excuse to refresh my makeup bag more often!)

To this end, I started writing dates on eyeshadow palettes a while back.

It’s simple enough to do. I just write the year I added it to my collection on the item with a Sharpie, but now I’m thinking about also writing the expiration date directly on things so I’m continuously reminded (in cases when the date is only on the packaging). For instance, I got an Ilia liquid eye tint last weekend, and it has a six-month symbol on the bottom of the tube, which means that, if I go by the book, it’ll be good until March 2022.

Now, I should characterize this endeavor as a test or an experiment, because I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it when the expiration date passes but I still don’t want to discard something. Will the fact that I’ve written the date right on the item bother me? Time will tell. So this is just an experiment for now.

Also, the part of me that loves lists wants to start a spreadsheet with the following columns:

• Item name
• Date purchased
• Expiration date
• Similar items currently in my stash

That way I can make sure I’m not just buying the same taupe eyeshadow or coral blush over and over, ya know?

I’m so ready to turn over a new leaf and try new things! 😊

I’d love to hear what your process is. Do you keep track of how old your makeup is and how long you’ve had it? I’m very curious about this!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen