Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Matthew Kelly

Like the food in your fridge, the makeup in your bathroom goes bad after a while. Even though a swipe of day-old lipstick doesn't warrant a trip to the hospital like food poisoning does, expired makeup can wreak havoc in its own way. Though it can be tedious, there are ways to check if your makeup has gone bad and it's time to throw it away.

If you're not careful, using expired makeup products, like old mascara, can cause skin irritation, breakouts, eye infections, and more. Fortunately, the expiration dates on your makeup products depend on the first day you use them, not the purchase date. Despite this caveat, it's best to follow what the product label says.

If you're wondering what the expiration date on a makeup product looks like, here's a simple breakdown. Regardless of what store you purchase your favorite products from, all makeup should be stamped with an image of an open jar, then a number followed by the letter "M." This is the "period after opening" (PAO) sign that lets consumers know how many months after opening until the product expires.

Another way to tell if your makeup has expired is to use a cosmetics calculator. This will help you determine the manufacture date of cosmetics by the batch code or lot number. There are websites out there, like CheckCosmetic.net, that allow you to look up your products by filling out just a few questions, putting your mind at ease on whether or not your makeup has expired.

Still not completely sure if your product has gone bad? Here are some red flags regarding old makeup. If a product is beginning to develop a seriously funky odor, it's time for it to go. Make sure the caps on all your products are secured after use, and store makeup in a cool, dry place. The FDA stresses that "a product's safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored."

This does go both ways, though. Storing makeup in desirable environments, like lipstick in the refrigerator, can keep them fresh after the expiration date. Something else to keep in mind: don't "pump" your mascara wand in and out of the tube. All you're doing is forcing air in, causing the product to break down faster. Pencil eyeliners and lip liners last longer when sharpened regularly. If you have trouble remembering exactly how old a product is, use a permanent marker to write the date that you opened it on the bottom of its case for easy reference.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stephanie Zheng | Esthetician (@collectionofvials)

Unlike food, the signs of makeup expiring may not be obvious. For example, nail polishes are no longer good when they begin to separate. For makeup tools like sponges and brushes that don't exactly have expiration dates, it can be even harder to tell when they've gone bad. Makeup sponges should be cleaned daily, but it's best to toss them after two weeks of use. Makeup brushes, on the other hand, should be cleaned once a week.

To ensure you don't use your makeup past its expiration date, keep this chart on hand and count from the day you broke the seal on the product to tell if it's still good:

Product When to toss Powder (including blush, bronzer, and shadow) 2 years Cream shadow and blush 12-18 months Oil-free foundation 1 year Cream compact foundation 18 months Concealer 12-18 months Lipstick and lip liner 1 year Lip gloss 18-24 months Pencil eyeliner 2 years Liquid or gel eyeliner 3 months Mascara 3 months

- Additional reporting by Naomi Parris

Use any of your favorite quesadilla fillings

Amazon's top-seller is quite the smooth operator: 'The wheels spin and move like butter on a hot pan!'

This genius invention has over 33,000 shoppers raving about its clutter-clearing virtues.

There's something on sale for everyone — including $15 off a best-selling panini grill.

It’s the shopping event we’ve been waiting for all summer, and it’s finally here: Tons of appliances are massively discounted!

The "Watch What Happens Live" host shared a video of his son Ben, who was not having the best time in the car.

Make every square inch of space count with these clever Bed Bath & Beyond buys from Casper and more.

Don't miss your chance to score a bestselling TV set at a ridiculous price.

“Feliz cumpleaños #56 para mi!!!” Salma Hayek wrote.

Paulina Porizkova has a message about modeling. The former America’s Next Top Model judge, 57, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a photo of herself in a colorful bikini. She used the pic to share some "food for thought" in her caption.

Furry friends can channel the country icon with canine-sized cowgirl hats, denim jackets and fringed dresses, all for a feel-good cause.

All the features you love about the top legging brands, for a fraction of the price.

As summer starts to fade out and fall comes in, this Labor Day Amazon is bringing the biggest sales on the hottest items. From smart TVs to running shoes, these prices are guaranteed to bring in fall with a bang.

We've taken the labor out of Labor Day TV shopping; click our picks and save!

Crocs, Lee, Naturalizer and so much more: There's a style bonanza happening right now, with prices starting at just $17.

The host of the Netflix's "How to Build a Sex Room" says the series is "sex positive" and she doesn't know why Pinterest removed her board about it.

Score big on TVs, headphones, laptops, video games, tablets and so much more this holiday weekend.

Max out a small space with these brilliant finds from Shark, Ugg and more, starting at $20.

The "Riverdale" star has long spoken out about the pressure for women in Hollywood to conform to an unrealistic, idealized body type.

Wake up and smell the coffee! All these machines make great cups of joe — and they start at just $34.