Does anyone know shelf life of MAC products

[72Cosmo]

I have seen some older eyeshadows on ebay that I wouldn't mind having that are NIB from 2003. I just don't know if it would be crazy to buy an older eyeshadow. Does anyone have any info on this?

 

[martygreene]

To determine the shelf life of a product, you will need to look at the box for said product (or a similar product, ie. if you want to know the life of clone e/s you can look at metamorph, just has to be the same type, not color).

There you will see a little icon that looks like this:

This indicates how long after opening, the product is considered useable. In this case, 24 months for a tube of MAC paint.

Also, check out the FAQ post about cosmetic shelf life, in the FAQ section of the forums.

 

[midnightlouise]

Wow, I never even knew that was there! Thanks martygreene, you're a veritable fount of information!

 

[72Cosmo]

Thank you so much! I learn so much from this site! I bet a lot of other people never knew about this either! I am looking at some eyeshadow boxes and that little icon isn't on them. It isn't on the eye kohl pencil or lipstick either. It is on the rock it face palette for 24 months. Wonder why it isn't on the eye shadow or lipstick?

 

[maclay]

Cool! I never knew about those little symbols!

 

[kissacid]

Wow is that symbol really new? Or am i possibly that blind...

 

[user4]

incredible the little things that u miss. i have a question, if u have makeup for too long, what happens?

 

[PrettyKitty]

I can't see it on my e/s, eye khol, lipgelee, lipglass, lipstick boxes. I only see it on my Microfine Refinisher!

 

[MargaretD]

Shelf life

I have some lipglasses I bought in 2001 and they are still good. The texture is the same as a new gloss and they still smell like vanilla.

I also have some e/s from 2001/2002 and they are in great condition.

HTH

 

[martygreene]

The use of the symbol was optional for a number of years, and has recently been mandated by the FDA, so you SHOULD start seeing it more.

Remember, there is also the FAQ post about shelf life for cosmetics for more info on the subject.

 

[Bettycakes]

I still have my first MAC e/s, Vanilla, in the screw top pot... I think I bought it in 1997 (?) and it's perfectly fine. And now it's a collectible, yay!

As an aside, when did the pots change from screw top to flip top?

 

[Dawn]

Oh my gosh, Vanilla was my first purchase also... I still have it and use it and it works just as well as the others... Dawn

 

[Wontpayretail23]

Does anyone have the older screw top pot shadows and could confirm if they still work like new? Would be interesting to know.

 

[Monique0a]

I have over 350+ shadows, a LOT of them quite old, with few exceptions, they all work well. There are a few of the really old ones that don't seem to work at all but I am not sure if it is because they are old or because they were just a lousy formulation because others from the same time frame work fine. HTH

 

[Incus]

Thanks MartyGreene- I've always wondered how long my MAC products would last.... and now I know! thanks!

 

[juicy love]

Wow I never knew that was on the box. Thanks martygreene!

 

[Kristen]

btw.. what will happen to a pressed powder product when it goes bad?

 

[eyeshadowfreak]

I'm guessing that by putting those symbols on there (aside from being mandated by the FDA) it will limit their liability. Like that paint for example. If they say it's good for 24 months, and something happens after you've had it for longer than that, they wouldn't be help responsible legally since you can trace it back to when it was made.

It makes sense so it wouldn't surprise me if that is true as well.