When to toss that cosmetics? (+.-)

Every time when I buy new cosmetics I would pop that question of, when is the manufacturing date or when will it expired, and a lot of time, the sales gal would say, the shelf life after you open the product is 3 years, then this year when I buy a blusher from a respectable brand and saw the manufacturing date is 28/08/2008 I hesitated and was thinking to myself mmm, maybe I should get something else that manufacture in this year because I normally can't finish one blusher in a year time, but the sales gal assure me that this brand of blusher only expired in 5 years time and I believed her, because there were no expired date but manufacturing date, and because it's a respetable brand, and an overseas brand, so I guess I trust the brand and the sales gal, but I was told by another sales person that all brand normally expired in 3 years time, (+.+) damn...

Then again this year, I need to buy some facial product and saw another respectable brand selling some sets of skin care, so I when to get the set but on the bottle, there was no expiry date and don't even have a manufacturing date, just some bar code or something so I can only rely on asking the sales person to answer my question, so I ask the supervisor when is the expiry date and she told me it expired on 2011 and assured me that she know how to look at the codes so I trust her and buy myself 2 set of the skin care, but I'm not sure so I email the skin care company at Australia and they direct my mail to Malaysia seller and that brand house reply with details of the date, and man (+.+) ... some of the skin care expired on 2010... (@.@) ooo. I felt soo cheated, I mean, don't respectable brand in Malaysia train their stuff anymore? I was told by a lot's of respectable brand sales person that mascara expired in 3years time, it wasent untill that I search on the internet that I found out that different product have different expiry date. I'm so dissapointed... but what to do?

Manufacture don't always print their expired date or manufacturing date on their product, some product only have barcodes and our Government don't force manufacturer or importer to print the expired date on their product, so we consumers can only rely on ourself and our own judgment (@.@) ...

so When to toss that cosmetics? check out below.... but below is just some reference, the answer, will be relying on your own judgement and the date on the product.. and next time when you buy cosmetic and skin care, do look out for the manufacturing and expired date before you buy anything.

**Nail Polish

Shelf life: Two years.

Store it: In a cool, dry place.

Toss it: If it becomes thick, if the color turns or starts to separate, or if off-color polish doesn’t look better after a good shake.

**Foundation

Shelf life: A year if it’s water-based; about 18 months if it’s oil-based.

Store it: Keep the lid tightly closed. Always use a sponge, not your fingers, to apply it.

Toss it: If you notice a change in color, smell or consistency.

**Mascara

Shelf life: Three months.

Store it: Never use water or saliva to thin out mascara — that can encourage bacteria growth. Don’t share mascara or touch anything but your lashes with the brush.

Toss it: If it smells funny or becomes dry or difficult to apply.

**Shadow and Blush

Shelf life: Two to three years for powders; one year for creams.

Store it: Keep products dry, and clean brushes often.

Toss it: When powder crumbles, or when cream changes texture or smell.

**Eyeliner and Lip Liner

Shelf life: Six to 12 months for liquids; two to three years for pencils.

Store it: Keep bottles tightly sealed; sharpen pencils to expose a fresh point before using them.

Toss it: Replace liquids if you notice a change in smell, color or consistency. Pencils should go when the tip looks white or becomes too dry or if the product smells.

**Perfume

Shelf life: Three years from the date of manufacture for fragrances that are unopened and stored in a cool dark place.

Store it: Keep fragrances tightly sealed at all times. Open perfume or cologne allows evaporation which can alter the delicate ratio of your fragrance.

Toss it: Replace regularly. Fragrance breaks down over time so plan on replacing perfume and cologne on a regular basis.

some info is from Jusco magazine (^^,) Thanks Jusco ..