I don’t often throw things away based on dates. A product can spoil before or long after the “expiration date.”

I throw things out when: smells weird, separates (except for certain liquid products that always separate if you let them sit untouched for a while, like certain foundations and lip products), texture changes, discoloration, grows fuzzy stuff or spots, dries out, has new bubbles or other odd chemical reactions.

The biggest indicators its expired will be new smells, texture changes, and color changes. One common one that’s missed often: if a lip product starts to smell very heavily of wax, it’s gone rancid. Don’t even bother trying to salvage it, just throw it away. Eyeshadow can last pretty long if stored properly but before you use something you’ve had for years check for new crystals, spots, or color changes in the powders. Those are often signs it’s spoiled or has gone moldy. If you have something very old you want to try to preserve (like a discontinued product), keep it in a dry, cool, location. Don’t put products in the fridge or freezer, there’s way too much moisture and freezing changes textures.

If your lip pencils smell fine and swatch smoothly they’re probably fine.