National Toss Your Makeup Month

If you haven't heard already - either by internet, taking a trip to CVS lately, or picking up the May issue of Good Housekeeping - May is National Toss Your Makeup Month.

Clever marketing tactics aside, this is a great opportunity for the many of us who often forget that it's essential to our well-being to get rid of dated cosmetic products, which can harbor a variety of bacteria, germs, and other unpleasant things.

When do you toss what, though? Here's a little refresher, courtesy of CVS and Good Housekeeping.

It’s time to toss your:
- Mascara after 3 months to avoid bacteria & maximize performance.
- Skin care products after 6 months when ingredients degrade.
- Sunscreen after 6 months to ensure UV protection.
- Liquid foundations after 6 months to prevent breakouts and irritation, and your loose and pressed powder foundations after 2 years.
- Powder eye shadow after 2 years, cream eye shadow after 6 months, and eye liner after three months to avoid bacteria.
- Nail polish after 1 to 2 years.
- Lipstick after 2 years to avoid bacteria & preserve moisture.

Of course, what kind of promotional event would this be without a sale? CVS is offering 20% off online beauty purchases through 4/18/08, and in-store, you can earn "extra bucks" on products by Garnier, Nivea, and Essence of Beauty. Get full details on the promotion here.

You can also find a link to the full article here, which has interesting information about how cosmetics age, so to speak, and why.

Pretty smart idea on behalf of CVS. But I'll admit I'm a sucker for those savings!