How Long Does Liquid Eyeliner Last

We all will agree that no other makeup product can make such an instant change on human features as an eyeliner can do. Probably, that’s the reason even a novice goes for eyeliner when starting their journey towards the makeup world. With the goal to have pointed and perfect liner on my eyes, I myself had chosen liquid eyeliner over any other over and over again as that’s the most promising one to exist.

It’s like a security blanket to many of us. Liquid eyeliner has always been around, and its popularity has not dried out even once. With such obsession comes the urge to find out the best product, to cancel or adjust with any limitation. With ever-evolving eyeliner products, you might have found what works best for you, but the actual problem remains, which is its longevity.

In this article, we will be talking about how long does liquid eyeliner lasts actually, regardless of whether the bottle is opened or unopened. We will also discuss how to tackle those limitations of liquid eyeliner aka its lasting power. Hope from now on, you can peacefully use your eyeliner without worrying about whether you should stock up on another one, just in case.

Factors Affecting Liquid Eyeliner Longevity

• Quality of the product: If you have experience with all kinds of liquid eyeliner products, you’ll agree that it’s always the dupes that dry out fast. So the quality matters. Also, the type of liquid eyeliner you have sometimes affects longevity, too. Like felt tip liners frays easily if handled harshly.
• Storage conditions: These products already come with certain conditions labeled on them. So, if they are not met, the usage time can lessen significantly. That aside, keeping your product in the bathroom or under direct sunlight can affect the formula.
• Frequency of use: Using regularly gives good color payoff but runs out quickly, too. As eyeliner is applied on top of eyeshadows, the eye shadow pigments get stuck with the nib of eyeliner pens, which in turn hinders the smooth application.
• Environmental factors: An essential factor to keep in mind. If you live in a humid or high-temperature climate, you should leave your eyeliner in the fridge. Often, liquid pen eyeliner can’t handle pressure well. So, if you’re on a plane or go hiking in some higher place, you’ll notice that the eyeliner smears all around.

How Do You Preserve Liquid Eyeliner

PROPER STORAGE TECHNIQUES:

1. Liquid eyeliners contain oils, and when stored in the fridge, oil-based products can extend their life by a considerable amount of time. Because it helps to stall the oil from going rancid. So why not throw them in the fridge?
2. Keep in a cool/dry, dark place.
3. Keeping liquid pen eyeliners upside down may help with the drying-out-fast issue. Makes the liquid pull to the tip. You might think, what if the tip is overly saturated once opened? But isn’t it better to have that issue rather than having your liner dry out after a few uses?

HYGIENE PRACTICES

1. Sterilizing the tip with alcohol might help you to use pen eyeliners longer. Make sure to run some product through it before the next usage so you don’t burn your eyes. The amount of alcohol should be less than a drop.
2. If you’re using your own brush for application, wash it after every use.
3. Wipe with a paper towel after every use so that eyeshadows don’t end up clogging up the nib.

USAGE RECOMMENDATIONS for EXTENDING LONGEVITY:

1. Liquid eyeliners are notorious for drying out as soon as they are cracked open. So don’t open it until you actually want to use not even for swatch tests, or it’ll surely start dwindling quality-wise.
2. You probably ruined your eyeliner tip with all the eyeshadow you’ve been caking up on your lids. So, cleaning up the nib with wet tissue frequently is recommended.
3. Felt tip liquid eyeliner’s tip frays out quickly in general. To fix that, put the tiniest amount of rubbing alcohol on the tip. Then, use tweezers to pinch the felt a few times till the product appears on the tweezers. Do this twice and apply after half an hour.
4. Shake well before using a brush or pen-tip eyeliner. The centrifugal force may make your eyeliner work just fine even when you thought it dried up.

COMMON MISTAKES to AVOID

• Keeping your eyeliner in the bathroom: Many of us use the bathroom mirror for precise application in front of all those direct lights. But forgetting it or purposefully storing it is a big mistake because there’s usually a huge temperature and moisture change during showers, which is not conducive to such products.
• After using on top of powder products, and not cleaning up the tip afterward.
• Not shaking up properly before using.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does liquid eyeliner typically last once opened?

ANSWER: The general answer is 9-12 months.

It really depends mainly on the type and then on the formula. Eyeliners with felt tips dry up quickly whether you use them frequently or not. Don’t be surprised if they dry up after a month or two. On the other hand, a brush tip or inkwell can last for up to a year or more!

Can you use liquid eyeliner past its expiration date?

ANSWER: Expiry date does not only mean that the formula’s stabilizers expire, but that timeframe is also a good one from once opened for bacterial growth to be at an unsafe level if used regularly. Bacterial growth in cosmetics is not the only issue. 

Remember, demodex growth and colonization happen as well on products. So put, net worth is what you save because the aftereffects are harmful.

How do you identify if liquid eyeliner has gone bad?

ANSWER: A lot of indicators can assure you that. Some mysterious spots on the applicator or rancid smell are the mains. Other than that, if your eyeliner with tip doesn’t glide as smoothly, it’s time to get a new one.

An advice would be to smell your eyeliner right after opening so you can sense the change and figure out whether it’s good to go or not.

Can You Store Liquid Eyeliner in the fridge to extend its life?

ANSWER: The main concern with most of the liquid eyeliner is that they dry up quickly. Storing them in the fridge won’t subside that issue. Still, it’s a good idea if you live in scorching climates.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This whole article took you through understanding liquid eyeliner, its composition, what ingredients are used, and why. Then came why your liquid eyeliner dries up so fast, the factor related to this problem. Knowing them will help to find solutions. It’s essential to use eye makeup safely to avoid any contamination. Knowing about the shelf life of whatever brand you use is very necessary. We covered that, too. And obviously, all the tips that can prolong your liquid eyeliner life are included. All those tips are tried and tested. Basically, all the tips are gathered in this one article.

Lastly, keep in mind that when in doubt, throw it out. Never hoard makeup products like liquid eyeliner, which is used in sensitive areas. Be mindful of shelf life. Saving branded products for good occasions is really wrong. You can’t imagine how easily bacteria attack after one use. The side effects are not worth it.

Not being able to use a product to your satisfaction is really frustrating. Even more when you know the product could have lasted longer, but your bad habits ruined it before its shelf life. You need to maintain your own hygiene if you want your favorite liner to last longer. Clean religiously. Don’t share eye makeup products with others. And last but not the least, store properly. These mistakes related to using habits and storage methods are so common yet widely repeated. So be aware of them.