Mold on Eyeshadow: Why and What to Do?

Mold on eyeshadow is not very common, and you won’t see it happening. But this is not very uncommon. And with old and unused makeup, there’s a chance of Mold growing around. Eyeshadows are the worst victims of Mold. Most eyeshadows are powders, and we don’t bother buying the same palette yearly. Even the pills we have are supposed to last us for years.

And that is the exact reason why there can be a Mold infestation on the eyeshadows. Rather than what to do with Mold, we need to focus on how to prevent it. Some of the makeup products will last for years and remain intact and as good as new. These are stored properly and have been used regularly. So why is there Mold on eyeshadow?

The main reason why there’s Mold on the eyeshadow is because of the expiration date of that particular product. Most makeup brands tend to last for one to two years. And then, with the expiration date, the preservatives also tend to die down, and Mold and bacterial growth have become widespread. And next up, we have the reason for storage. Even when the eyeshadow palette is brand new, Mold can grow on the product if it’s stored poorly. Inadequate temperature and humidity would be the main reasons. And if the eyeshadow has been sitting there for ages, Molds are a must. And lastly, Molds can be pretty common with low-cost brands.

Mold on eyeshadow is very uncomfortable and heartbreaking for most girls, who spend thousands of dollars for one eyeshadow palette. If we know the prices of the shadow palettes, then you already know how much it costs. And if the palettes are molded, then they have to be thrown away. So is there a problem while using Mold on eyeshadow?

The chances of you getting infected are a big yes. For example, if you’ve heard of bad eye infections from makeup, then the chances are that you have used moldy or infected products, and thus they reacted with your eyes and made the case worse. Most cosmetics products, including lipstick and beauty blenders, have a chance of fungus and bacterial growth. Mold tends to grow even when the products are completely safe and clean.

What causes Mold to grow on eyeshadow?

Mold tends to grow on makeup, especially eyeshadow products, mostly because of several things. Firstly, the Molds will need three things to grow: moisture, warmth, and food. If these things are on the eyeshadow palette, then there’s a high chance of Mold growth. Well, here’s a description of how there can be Mold on your eyeshadow.

If the products are kept in very humid weather, and there’s also heat, for example, in a closet where there’s no chance of perspiration, the Mold will grow. And when the product has most likely expired, then the preservatives do not work anymore, and in very adverse weather, the Molds have the perfect food (the eyeshadows palettes contain oils and fats), warmth,) and moisture from the environment. So they have every reason to thrive.

Here are some reasons why there might be Mold on eyeshadow:

The expiry date of eyeshadow

Even though the eyeshadows are mostly powders, there are chances that most of the ingredients will react badly when the expiration date of the product comes around. But most of the known brands have maintained the integrity of their products for ages. And this is what makes the eyeshadow different from the rest of the products. But with cream eyeshadows, we are not sure if they’ll be able to last beyond their expiration dates. As most of these eyeshadows are packed with oils and fats, their contents are comparatively high. So there might not be enough protection. But even when the expiration date is near, the eyeshadow palettes shouldn’t contain Mold if they are stored properly.

Humid environment

If you’re keeping the product in a humid place, there’s a high chance of Mold. And the best example of a humid environment is the bathroom vanity. With such storage, the products will surely get Mold, fungal infection, and bacterial infection, as mostly those things will thrive in the humid environment of a vanity. And bathrooms tend to have a less efficient cooling system, which will make the whole situation more severe.

Direct sunlight

Well, most products come with warnings that they have to be stored in a cool place. And most products tend to break and react under direct sunlight. So when the eyeshadow palette is kept under direct sunlight, there’s a chance that the product will eventually break down, and there will be reactions in it. And with direct sunlight, there might be high temperatures and humidity exposed to the products.

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Aged eyeshadow is pale

And lastly, we cannot describe how age can affect any makeup product. Most makeup products will continue to work fine for years to come. But when you use your mother’s or grandmother’s palate, do look out for Molds.

How can you tell that there’s Mold growing in your eyeshadow palette?

Well, in makeup products, the Mold will not show up as it does with a loaf of bread. So with such eyeshadow palettes, you might want to inquire about the whole thing to ensure an infestation. Visible inspection of the Molds might be the first thing that comes to mind, but Molds can grow deep into the product, and they might not yet be visible until you have a very bad breakout.

Well, here are some ways that you can understand that there might be Mold growth in your eyeshadow palette:

• The smell of the product: well, most makeup brands have their own smell. And the same thing goes for eyeshadow palettes. They tend to have a very cosmetic smell coming from them. And you can feel how the eyeshadows feel fresh; when Mold grows, the smell changes. It’s more likely to smell a bit damp. Like when the soil smells after rain. And that might be a slight smell of that damp turn with the eyeshadows with Mold.
• Change in pigmentation: when there’s a chance that you have a very pigmented eyeshadow, there’s also a chance that that pigment will not show up on the same Mold on eyeshadow palettes. Even after two to three swipes of the brush from the palette, the color will not show up. And that is why the bad pigmentation is a good indication of Mold.
• The product feels damp; after the smell, you might want to touch it with your fingertips. If it feels damp and nothing like before, then there’s a high chance of Mold infestation.
• Skin test: well, we hope it will be the last test. If you feel that your eyeshadow might have Mold sitting there, swipe it on your hands before putting the product directly on your eyes. If you feel any sort of irritation, then there’s a high chance of Mold growth. And you can also see the pigmentation this way and confirm the results.

How does Mold affect the skin?

With eyeshadow palettes, it will affect the eyes, and the eyes are the most sensitive part of most human beings. Eyes tend to be more susceptible to allergies or infections, making them very vulnerable to Mold on eyeshadow. Well, you will not go to the emergency room with a Mold infestation when you have regular skin and an immune system. But the whole body might be compromised for those with very sensitive skin and a vulnerable immune system.

With Mold on eyeshadow, there can be severe cases where you may also lose the whole grip on the skin. Mold infestation might not seem serious to some people when they wear the product for a few hours. But it will grow as you wear it for hours. And that makes the Mold on eyeshadow sometimes a very bad case. Here are some possible concerns with the Mold infestation on eyeshadow:

1. Eczema
2. Rashes
3. Skin irritation
4. Eye inflammation
5. swollen skin and eyes
6. Red eyes
7. Itching

What to do when there’s already Mold on eyeshadow?

Well, with the eyeshadows, there’s a chance that you might have to go through a bit of work. Well, we might include these few steps:

Get rid of the pallet

Well, if there’s Mold on eyeshadow, it shouldn’t be used at all. It should be thrown away as soon as you see it. If you see the Mold infestation as soon as you buy it, or even if you see that the pallet has only been used for a couple of months and long before the expiry date, then just ask for a replacement from the seller or manufacturer. But it will be better if you get rid of the pall.

Save some shadows

When you see that only two or three colors have been badly affected by Mold, it might be better to save the rest of the shadows. For that, use a sharp and flat object and swap some of the colors from the palette. Get rid of the affected ones and save the rest of the shadows in a cold, dry place. This way, you’ll have some still-usable shades.

Clean up the palate

Well, we are not sure if this will work, but try to use a disinfectant on the eyeshadow palette and scrape most of the Mold away. This way, you’ll have some saved pigmentation. But these might not solve the entire problem, but they will surely do the job. But only with the palates that are slightly affected.

How to prevent Mold on eyeshadow

Well, there might not be a written plan on the back of the eyeshadow palette. Most of these products are just powders, so Mold growth is the last thing you think of. But still, here are some possible ways of preventing a Mold infestation on eyeshadow palettes:

1. Refrigerator

And we recommend this for every makeup item that you own. Use a small refrigerator in your vanity to store the products. In these ways, the products will last longer, and they will not be infected by humidity or heat. They tend to have a longer life as most bacteria, fungi, and Molds are unable to grow at very low temperatures.

2. Store in a dry place

Right at the refrigerator, there’s the dry place to secure the eyeshadow palette. Always avoid bathroom vanities, as they are the primary source of Mold infestation. And that way, you’ll not be able to secure the palettes, let alone any of the makeup you own.

3. Cool place

Even when you feel that the refrigerator is too much for the eyeshadow, at least keep the product in a relatively cool place. A room with air conditioning will be the perfect save. Also, avoid direct sunlight, and once in a while, take the eyeshadows and clean them properly with a disinfectant.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Mold on eyeshadow can be a result of the formulation of the shadows. And these will strictly lie with the manufacturer of the products. So are Molds on eyeshadow widespread? No, they are not. But if there’s a problem with the manufacturers and Molds, then the products should be discarded before they’re released. And the FDA has more enforcement actions in sucker cases. There are several aspects of Mold on eyeshadow, but why there’s Mold growth must be necessary from the seller’s end. But what to do when there’s Mold growth is something for the user and buyer. If there’s Mold on the palate, you might want to throw it out completely, as it can cause severe problems.

Key Points

1. The major reason for the Mold on the eyeshadow is that the product has beyond its shelf life.
2. The molds have the right nourishment (the makeup palettes include oils and fats), warmth, and moisture from the environment, even in extreme conditions.
3. When Mold grows, the fragrance of the eyeshadow palette changes.
4. When the eyeshadow palette is stored in bright sunlight, there is a potential that the product will ultimately break down and have reactions.
5. Bathroom vanities should always be avoided since they are the major source of Mold infection.

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