Refreshing Your Makeup for 2025: Which Products Should You Toss and Replace?

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to refresh your makeup collection. Whether you’ve been using the same products for years or just realized some of your favorites are past their prime, now’s the moment to evaluate and replace what’s no longer serving you. Makeup products, like all beauty items, have expiration dates, and keeping old items can not only affect your look but can also lead to potential skin irritation or infections.

Let’s dive into which makeup products should be tossed, replaced, or refreshed as we enter the new year.

1. Old Foundations and Concealers

Why Replace?
Foundation and concealer are essential to any makeup routine, but these products have a relatively short shelf life. Typically, liquid foundations and concealers should be replaced every 12-18 months. After this period, they can separate, lose effectiveness, or even become a breeding ground for bacteria.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The product has a strange smell.
• The texture has changed and doesn’t blend as well.
• It no longer provides the coverage or finish it once did.

What to Replace It With?
For 2025, consider looking into clean, hydrating formulas with skin-benefiting ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin C. Brands are now formulating foundations with more inclusivity and shade variety, so take time to find the perfect match.

2. Expired Mascara

Why Replace?
Mascara is one of those products that can’t last long. Ideally, it should be replaced every 3-6 months to avoid clumping, smudging, and most importantly, potential eye infections. Over time, the tube’s wand can accumulate bacteria, which can transfer to your eyes.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The formula has dried out and doesn’t apply smoothly.
• It’s clumping or flaking.
• You notice irritation or redness in your eyes after application.

What to Replace It With?
Look for mascaras that offer length, volume, and natural ingredients. If you’ve been using waterproof formulas, it might be worth trying a nourishing alternative to avoid dry lashes.

3. Outdated Eyeshadows and Eye Pencils

Why Replace?
Cream eyeshadows, pencils, and gel liners tend to dry out or change texture over time. Powder eyeshadows, on the other hand, can last longer but can also fade in pigment or become crumbly.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The product is difficult to apply or no longer has its original pigmentation.
• There’s a noticeable change in texture or scent.
• It has passed its typical shelf life (generally 12-24 months for pencils, up to 3 years for powder).

What to Replace It With?
In 2025, many brands are shifting toward eco-friendly, long-lasting, and vibrant formulas. Try cream eyeshadows or gel pencils that promise longer wear without the need for touch-ups.

4. Lipsticks and Lip Glosses

Why Replace?
Lipsticks, especially if you’ve had them for a while, are subject to bacterial contamination, especially if you apply directly from the tube. The creamy consistency of lip glosses can also separate or get sticky over time, making them less pleasant to use. Lip products should be replaced every 12-18 months for hygiene and quality purposes.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The formula has changed in texture, consistency, or smell.
• The lipstick has dried out or become crumbly.
• There’s visible mold or any signs of separation.

What to Replace It With?
Consider hydrating lip balms with tint or lipsticks with nourishing oils and vitamin-rich formulas. Matte finishes are still popular, but dewy, glossy looks are making a comeback in 2025.

5. Powder Products (Blush, Bronzer, Highlighter)

Why Replace?
Powder products typically have a longer shelf life, but they can still degrade over time, especially if you notice the pigment starts to fade or the texture changes. If the powder becomes hard, chalky, or produces a lot of fallout, it’s time for a new one.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The powder is dry or crumbles easily.
• The product doesn’t blend as smoothly as it used to.
• It’s been sitting in your collection for more than 2 years.

What to Replace It With?
Look for multi-purpose sticks or compact powder blushes, bronzers, and highlighters. Cream formulas are still going strong, giving you a natural, dewy finish for 2025.

6. Out-of-Date Setting Sprays

Why Replace?
Setting sprays help lock in makeup and keep your face fresh throughout the day. However, after 2 years, they lose their effectiveness. They may also begin to separate, leaving behind residue or an unpleasant smell.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The spray nozzle clogs or doesn’t spray evenly.
• The formula feels sticky or greasy.
• The scent becomes overpowering or off.

What to Replace It With?
For 2025, look for setting sprays that offer hydration, skin protection, and a matte finish, depending on your skin type. Many sprays now contain antioxidants or SPF for added benefits.

7. Old Brushes and Sponges

Why Replace?
While not a makeup product per se, makeup brushes and sponges have a lifespan, too. Old brushes can become stiff, lose their shape, and even harbor bacteria, which can cause skin irritation. Beauty sponges, especially, should be replaced regularly.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The bristles have become hard or fall out.
• The sponge no longer holds product evenly or retains its bounce.
• It’s difficult to clean or maintain hygiene.

What to Replace It With?
Invest in high-quality brushes and reusable beauty sponges made from antimicrobial materials. Make sure to clean them regularly to prolong their lifespan.

8. Skincare Infused Makeup

Why Replace?
Many makeup products are now formulated with skincare ingredients, but these formulas can degrade over time. This is especially true for items that contain antioxidants, vitamins, or other active ingredients. As the formulas break down, they lose their effectiveness.

How to Tell It’s Time to Replace:

• The product no longer delivers the promised results.
• The texture or scent has changed.
• It’s been a year or more since purchase.

What to Replace It With?
Look for makeup products that offer additional skincare benefits, such as foundations with SPF, primers with anti-aging properties, or blushes and bronzers with nourishing oils.

Final Thoughts: Clean Out and Refresh for 2025

As we enter 2025, it’s essential to keep your makeup collection fresh and hygienic. Toss products that have gone bad, and replace them with new, high-quality formulas that suit your skin and style. Not only will your makeup look better, but it will also be safer for your skin. Refresh your routine and embrace the beauty innovations that the new year brings!