Homemaking mogul Martha Stewart recently revealed that she’s been using the same exact container of liquid eyeliner for 15 to 20 years – and some experts are sounding the alarm over the practice.
In a new makeup tutorial, which she demonstrated for Allure, the 83-year-old admitted that she rotates through five tubes of the discontinued T. LeClerc liquid eyeliners.
In order to keep them looking good, Stewart shared that she just adds water to them, and they haven’t dried out – yet.
‘This color, it’s sort of a silvery-gray-brown,’ the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia founder described in the video.
‘And then it’s just a little bit, right close to my lashes, of eyeliner,’ she described, as she guided the applicator along her lash line.
She also likes to apply a little bit underneath her bottom lashes.
But even though this tactic of using 15-year-old eyeliner may work for Stewart, it’s not exactly the best – or most sanitary – thing to be doing.
In fact, according to multiple doctors, it can even pose major dangers to your eye health.
Homemaking mogul Martha Stewart recently revealed that she’s been using the same exact container of liquid eyeliner for 15 to 20 years
In a new makeup tutorial, which she demonstrated for Allure, the 83-year-old admitted that she rotates through five tubes of the discontinued LeClerc liquid eyeliners
Dr. Alexandra Bowles, D.O., Board-Certified Dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, Ohio, told DailyMail.com that using eyeliner that is 15 to 20 years old can be ‘very harmful to your eye health.’
‘Over time, cosmetics can become breeding grounds for bacteria and fungus, especially if they’ve been used repeatedly or stored improperly,’ Dr. Bowles explained to DailyMail.com.
‘These microorganisms can lead to eye infections, such as conjunctivitis or styes, and may even cause more severe conditions if the infection spreads,’ she said.
Dr. Jodi LoGerfo, who is part of New York City-based Orentreich Medical Group, also noted that another issue of using eyeliner for this long is that the actual composition of the product can break down and become unsafe to use.
‘Another issue is that the composition of a product can start to degrade — the stability of the product can change,’ the Doctor of Nursing Practice told DailyMail.com.
‘Perhaps the preservative in the product is no longer protecting it,’ she continued. ‘If the product is an old eyeliner or mascara, the instability can lead to flaking, drying, and clumping upon application, which can be even more irritating to the eye and surrounding skin.’
Dr. Bowles seconded this, explaining that there’s a lot more that can happen to your eyes than just infections.
‘Beyond infections, the formula of older eyeliner may break down, potentially causing irritation, allergic reactions, or physical damage if the product flakes or becomes unstable,’ she shared.
Ohio-based Dr. Alexandra Bowles (left) and Manhattan-based Dr. Jodi LeGerfo (right) both agreed that using old eyeliner can be harmful to eye health
In fact, according to multiple doctors, using old eyeliner can pose major dangers to your eye health
‘The delicate skin around your eyes and your vision are too important to take these risks — expired makeup should always be discarded.’
Using expired products can also harm your eyes so much that it could lead to a loss of eyelashes.
‘These can lead to a loss of eyelashes or even problems with the eye, including vision problems,’ Dr. LoGerfo said.
The medical professional encouraged people to make sure they’re replacing their eye makeup regularly, as oftentimes, there is not an expiration date that’s printed on the package.
She recommended replacing your eyeliner and mascara every three to six months, while powdered eyeshadows can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
‘It is also important to store your products appropriately — in a cool, dry place and (of course) you should never share your makeup,’ Dr. LoGerfo offered.
And, if you’re like Martha and your favorite eyeliner has been discontinued, there are other steps you can take to try to replace it – and they don’t involve using the same pot of product for over 20 years.
‘If you have a favorite eyeliner that has been discontinued, you can call the company and inquire,’ Dr. LoGerfo said.
‘Sometimes they have something similar that can easily replace your favorite.’
