Saving Old Makeup

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN)--Just like food, makeup has a shelf life. When it expires experts say it's time to toss it out.

Clinical aesthetician, Jilleen Hoffman, says, "Masacara, for instance, has a shelf like of approximately 3 months once it has been opened. Your lotions and your creams, anything that is made with water generally has a shelf like of approximately a year. Your drier products such as powder would probably be two years."

Hoffman says makeup can go bad when the preservative system breaks down.

"You are exposing yourself to bacterial infections, conjunctivitis other types of eye infection and fungal infections," Hoffman says.

Hoffman says that if you do get a infection,"Immediately throw all products away and contact a doctor." She warns that if an individual does go back to the same makeup, the bacteria will simple return and most likely create another infection.

To limit the chance of a makeup oriented bacterial infection, Hoffman suggests the following:

-Keep fingers out of makeup jars to prevent contamination.

-Use a cotton swab or brush and clean it once a week in anti-bacterial soap.