When Hoarding Is Bad for Your Health

Thought Process of a Makeup Hoarder

In the summer of 2023, I was packing for a vacation with my family. As usual, I dragged out the old makeup and beauty tub to select what to bring.

It was a standard-sized tub of assorted beauty products, but rather full for someone with a simple beauty routine and minimal makeup on a given day. In fact, I only looked at the full tub on special occasions, and traveling seemed like a special occasion when I might want more colors of eyeshadow or lip gloss. Never mind that I only had so much space in my backpack and mostly would still use my basics!

Ignoring the Health Hazards Ahead

Within the tub, I came across Chanel lip gloss that looked ancient, with all the writing rubbed off the tube except the imprinted logo on the cap. Gleefully, I used the wand to try it on. It felt way too sticky and clumpy, but I thought, “The color still looks good, and I mean, it’s Chanel.” 

I didn’t bring it, but I did keep it in the tub. In fact, I kept everything in the tub, even if it didn't look or feel quite right or wasn't the right shade for me. I did wear some of it occasionally, and I’d already audited it, amiright?

Later that very day, a stressful packing day before a red-eye, I was in the shower when I felt what I thought were paper cuts in the corners of my mouth. I figured I must have been holding something with my lips and nicked the skin.

WRONG! By the time I’d landed at my destination and then family reunion a couple of days later, I had TWO ugly, full-fledged, absolutely embarrassing cold sores. I couldn’t even recall the last time that happened as an adult! Chalking it up to stress, I tried using medicine to cut it short, but I was too late.

Already coming in when I got off the plane

Recognizing the Need to Stop Hoarding

Lessons not learned: I was packing again two months later and returned to the tub. And again, I tried on the same Chanel gloss. Only this time, when I felt the tingle in the shower, I knew what to do and fortunately nipped it in the bud with preventative meds.

The second time around, I knew exactly why it had happened: That gloss was gifted to me 6+ years ago (I couldn’t say when!), and clearly, it was either given to me by someone with an outbreak or someone with an outbreak had borrowed it at some point.

Three things dawned on me:

• I had no memory of the lip gloss ever being used
• It was taking up space in a tub in my closet
• Keeping it was terrible for my health

This time, I realized some of my makeup within the depths of the tub was so old and unused that I forgot I even had it. Much had been gifted, although some were purchased after my socially conscious makeup audit. It was so out of control I didn't even know what I had anymore.

The audit was in 2018, by the way. In 2022, I resolved not to buy any makeup or beauty products unless it was to replace something I used that had run out directly. I kept that resolution and was still not buying new makeup seven months into 2023! But I still had a full-fledged tub of seldom (if ever) used items.

When Is It Time to Let Go?

Obviously, that gloss had to go. With that whole tub of unused, questionable items, I wondered, What else in that tub also has to go? I decided to do some research.

Turns out, no one may have had an outbreak that used the Chanel. Mold, yeast, or bacterial growth happens over time, particularly in damp environments. They can trigger outbreaks like cold sores, acne, rashes, bumps, or other irritations all on their own.

Cosmetics to Throw Away You Used When You Were Sick or After Three Months

Basically, anything that touches an orifice and has a reusable wand that can introduce germs from that orifice into the rest of the product has a short shelf life. And if a product is past its expiration date, even if you weren’t sick when you used it, studies show that up to 90% of beauty products tested positive for germs.

• Lip products with wands: Consider the entire tube contaminated after you’ve had a herpes outbreak or any infection of the mouth/ lip area. While the Mayo Clinic recommends up to six months, I still recommend three months maximum for caution. Why? Because I’ve had dry lips so bad they were cracking and the doctors ordered me not to use any non-prescription lip products that weren’t brand new or 100% sterilized to avoid infection, and specifically no glosses with wands.
• Mascara: Contact with the eyes during and after any eye infection poses a direct risk, so toss these immediately if you use them while infected. And avoid infection by tossing mascara three months after opening. In addition to health hazards, Byrdie also notes that using mascara longer impacts its performance, and you may see flaking and clumping.
• Eyeliners with wands or liquid liners: As with lip products, the whole tube should be considered contaminated.
• Makeup sponges: Clean regularly and toss regularly. These will spread acne and skin infections even if not directly in contact with eyes or lips (or nostrils).

Cosmetics to Toss After Six Months

According to Mayo Clinic, makeup typically lasts one year from the manufacture date. But it can be challenging to know what that date is, especially if it was only printed on the outer packaging, is very tiny, is absent, or has rubbed off. Six months after opening, toss out:

• Cream-based foundation
• Cream blush
• Lip glosses applied with the fingers, brush, or sponge

Cosmetics to Toss After One Year

The secret to keeping some of these for a full year or more is cleaning them with peroxide or rubbing alcohol about once per month.

• Water-based foundation
• Pencil eyeliners
• Gel eyeliners applied with a brush or sponge
• Lip pencils
• Lipstick or lip balm
• Eyeshadow
• Nail polish
• Sunscreen and any products with SPF
• Hairbrush
• Eye cream
• Powder blush and foundation

The Aftermath of Downsizing

Most of the tub was empty after I audited everything, and I continued to examine everything in my cabinets, as well. When it comes to cosmetics, there is a clear connection between hoarding and bad health.

Got rid of all this plus more, and it felt great

I can’t recommend enough that you audit your cosmetics, even if you haven’t seen any adverse effects yet. Even if you don’t notice health effects, the color and quality of makeup will deteriorate over time and could clog pores, start caking, or just look mismatched to your skin.

My final results:

• Didn’t need the tub for all that makeup anymore!
• Fit all my makeup into one eco-friendly makeup tote that I could bring anywhere
• Actually use all the beauty products I have
• Actually love the beauty products I use
• No more skin issues or infections
• Started regularly cleaning my cosmetics and rotating out reusable sponges
• Started auditing regularly to avoid any further health issues