Beauty Calculators
Eye makeup replacement cost.
The FDA says manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase. Enter what each eye product costs, how often you will replace it, and how long you keep it today. See what a year of replacements costs and what the schedule adds to your current habit. Runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Your eye products
Yearly cost
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
Mascara costs $12 and you replace it every 3 months, which is the middle of the FDA range of two to four months: 12 x 12 / 3 = $48.00 a year, four tubes. If you keep a tube 6 months today, that is $24.00 a year, so replacing on schedule adds $24.00. A $9 liquid eyeliner replaced every 6 months costs $18.00 a year, against $9.00 if you keep it 12 months. Both products: $66.00 a year on schedule, $5.50 a month, against $33.00 now, an extra $33.00.
How it works
cost per year = price x 12 / months between replacements. Replacements per year = 12 / months. The difference between schedule and habit is the extra cost of replacing sooner.
The reason to replace eye products is infection risk, not value. The FDA notes that bacteria can grow in eye cosmetics, advises not adding saliva or water to dried-up mascara, and says not to share eye cosmetics. Follow the pack.
The FDA page gives a range for mascara only. For other eye products the interval is yours to set from the pack or the PAO symbol; the tool does not assume one.
Every figure is arithmetic on numbers you type. No prices, sizes or amounts are assumed, and nothing is sent or stored.
Source (opened 2026-10-08): U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Eye Cosmetic Safety (content current as of 06/28/2022): "Manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase." This is general information, not medical advice.
FAQ
How often should I replace mascara?
The FDA says manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase. If your pack shows a period-after-opening symbol, follow it.
How much does replacing mascara cost per year?
Price times 12 divided by months between replacements. A $12 mascara replaced every 3 months costs $48.00 a year.
Why not keep mascara until it runs out?
Bacteria can grow in eye cosmetics, and an infection costs more than a tube. The FDA also says not to add water or saliva to dried-up mascara.
How often should I replace eyeliner or eyeshadow?
The FDA page used here gives a range for mascara only. Check the pack or the period-after-opening symbol and enter that interval.
Does this tool tell me when to throw a product away?
No. It prices a schedule you choose. The PAO calculator turns an open date into a discard-by date.