Old make-up
Toss mascara after three months and products with SPF after six. For everything else in your make-up bag, a one-year expiration is an easy rule of thumb, says Novak. “It wouldn’t harm you necessarily – although it could, or cause blemishes,” she says. Write the date on a product when you open it so you don’t forget. Don’t feel the need to hold on for a full year though – throw out products as soon as they change consistency, colour or scent.
Plastic shopping bags
Yes, those plastic grocery bags can come in handy, but that doesn’t mean you should keep an endless stockpile. Take a moment to calculate how many you actually use in a typical week. “Do the math,” says Richmond. “It’s what I use when clients are struggling with volume.” Add a pad of five or so to that number to give you a bit of wiggle room, she says.
Reusable bags
Reusable bags are sturdier and more eco-friendly than standard plastic grocery bags – if you remember to take them along. Chances are, you’ve bought extras when you forgot yours at home. “Some of those bags are crumply and crinkly and don’t fill to the top,” says Novak. Keep your go-tos and toss any with designs you don’t love, she says.