Soooo, when should I change my makeup?

I don't know about you, but before I actually started caring about makeup I never thought about it expiring or replacing it.  But makeup definitely has a shelf life and you definitely want to pay attention to when it should be replaced!

First things first, if you ever use your make up while you have ANY type of infection (ex. using mascara on your eyes while you have an eye infection) you MUST get rid of your make up after using it on the infected area. Makes sense?  If you are using mascara near an infection that bacteria is going to get onto the wand and it's going to breed there.  And the last thing you want after one eye infection is a second eye infection!

Second thing, if any of your make up seems to have a strange smell, it's texture is off, it's clumpy when it shouldn't be, or something seems off about it just toss it.  It's better to be safe than sorry!

Now let's say you buy your entire make up line at one time... BOOM... you lots of pretty make up that you are going to use every day, here's the time frame in which you should change all of those products

After 3-6 months

• Mascara - The maximum you want to keep your mascara for is 6 months.  Once you hit the 3 month mark you want to think about tossing it.  Tip to keep it longer - don't push your brush in and out like you see everyone do (yes, I am guilty too).  You don't want to do this because it pushes more air than necessary into the tube which will promote bacterial growth.
• Looking for a good mascara to buy next time? Why not buy Avon's Mega Effects Mascara.  You can get this sweat-proof, non-flaking, and non-smudging mascara to help give you panoramic volume!
• Liquid Foundation - Now if you are using a pump you can get an extra 2 months and get rid of it after 8 months.  The reason for that is pretty simple, no outside products are touching the foundation that may be staying in the bottle which can lead to bacterial growth.  Now, you usually want to change it every 6 months anyways just because it's good to change your color every 2 months.
• Looking for a good liquid foundation to buy next time?  You should try out Avon's Invisible coverage liquid foundation.  You get full coverage and luminous finish!
• Liquid Eyeliner - typically the same rules apply to liquid eyeliner as it does to mascara.

After one year

• Face powder - you can make face powder last for around the one year mark and plus.  If you are applying your powder to a shiny face more often than not you may want to toss at the year mark instead of going for the plus.  You may have some unwanted bacterial growth.  Eck!
• Looking for a few face powder to buy?  Avon has a wide variety of shades of loose face powder.  It's blends well and won't settle in lines.
• Pencil eyeliner - Usually these are gone way before the year mark but as long as they don't dry out then you can keep them for a year plus.  If you want to keep them for up to TWO years then sharpen it after every use.  This will keep the pencil clean and decrease the chance of bacterial growth.
• Looking for a few pencil eyeliner to buy?  Avon has plenty of glimmersticks for your eyes, brows, and lips!

Two years +

• Blush, bronzer, and eye shadow - OK, are you guys ready for this?  You expect your blush, bronzer, and eye shadow to last for up to four years!  Yup, you can keep that same baby blue, sparkly eye shadow for four years.  This is of course, if you do not use it on infected skin.  Yup, bacterial growth will happen in that case (do you guys sense a reoccurring theme here...
• Looking for some new eye shadow for the next time you buy?  Let me tell you, Avon has a wide variety of "bright eye" eye shadows.  They come in True color eyeshadow quads.  They are even crease-proof!

• Lipstick, lip liner - As long as you store these properly and they do not dry out, you can get these to last up to two years.
• Looking for a new lipstick shade to try next time you buy?  One word for you... "shine attract lipstick"  OK, maybe that's three.  But it's the new lightweight color from Avon.  It's lipstick surrounded by a gloss.  So it's two in one!

• Nail polish -  Your nail polish should stick with you for two years.  As long as the color still mixes when you shake it up then you are good.  If it doesn't mix at any point and time before that frame, just toss it.  Two helpful hints - yes, I said when you shake it up but you shouldn't shake it you should just roll the bottle between your two hands.  Shaking is bad, shaking leads to air bubbles... and air bubbles lead to ba.... you know what I am going to say here!  Helpful hint two - if you nail polish dries out try apply small amounts of nail polish remover and mixing it in to see if you can regain the liquidy consistency so you use it :)
• Looking for a new shade of nail polish??  Avon has a high-shine gel finish polish that you do not need a UV light!  It's even your base coat and top coat AND a strengthener!
• Make up brushes - You can keep your make up brushes for years WITH PROPER CARE.  You must wash them.  I repeat, you must wash them!  These little buggers are a breeding ground for bacteria and gross stuff!  You should clean your foundation brush every day (or after every use) and the rest of your brushes once a week.  They do sell brush cleaner or you can use baby soap, just something mild. 
• Avon has a wide variety of make up brushes.  They have natural and nylon bristles to suit the need as well as retractable and angled.

I am an independent representative for Avon.  If you need any help buying products or picking out products that work for you please let me know and I'd be happy to help!  You can contact me or visit http://abern.avonrepresentative.com/