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The best beauty advent calendars in the US in 2026 – tested and vetted
Lauren Gould Sun 4 Oct 2026 21.15 CEST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Each week the Filter newsletter cuts through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last.
I hate throwing away my makeup. My beloved 2010s Naked eyeshadow palette and liquid matte lipsticks hung out in my white Ikea drawers well past their expiration dates.
So, while this week we recommended a plethora of beauty products – from Korean skincare to buzzy advent calendars – we want to help you actually use these items before they inevitably expire.
I asked three experts for their best advice on preserving the life of these items and reducing the chance that they end up in a landfill.
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Keep a Sharpie in your makeup drawer Multiple experts I spoke to suggested labeling your items after opening, so that you know how long you have to use them before they expire.
Kim Chang, an aesthetician at Baylor University suggested storing a few permanent markers in your makeup drawer so that you can write the date you opened the item.
To keep track of how long you should be using your new lip gloss, check its PAO (period after opening). This is commonly found on the back of a product’s packaging. Look for a little icon of an open jar with a number next to it. That’s the number of months the product is good for after opening, said Dr Leyte Winfield , a chemist and director of Spelman’s Cosmetic Science Program .
View image in fullscreen Photograph: Lauren Gould/The Guardian Don’t store items in your bathroom “Many, like myself, store products in the bathroom for ease of access. Storing the item in a room other than the bathroom is recommended, while others may need to be refrigerated,” Winfield advised. You don’t need a fancy skincare fridge for your lotions and potions, but a decorative (and functional) basket or two would be a good place to start.
Avoid contamination Bacteria can decrease the longevity of your cosmetics, especially if you’re dipping into your moisturizer or lip gloss with your bare hands (or fingers).
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“Contaminants enter the product due to repeated application, even if an application tool is used,” said Winfield. Chang said you can opt for packaging that reduces the times you have to put your fingers into an item, like push-top moisturizers. (Also, wash your makeup brushes! )
Think before you buy With new beauty products entering the market every day, I am often tempted to grab the newest Rhode launch or viral skincare product. However, you can (and should) be intentional with your purchasing power. “I think it’s useful to consider shelf life at the point of purchase. If someone only uses a p…