Here’s a health tip for travel you may not have thought of yet: throw out your old makeup. You might not think it’s necessary or insist you don’t really hold on to all those products for that long, but take an honest look at your cosmetic bag.

When did you buy your favorite lipstick?

Even if you use it often, chances are slim you will finish the full tube before it expires after about a year.

New makeup brand Stowaway is breaking the mold by churning out quality cosmetics in travel sizes only! So you can finally finish your makeup and won’t be tempted to hang on to expired products that were made to large to begin with.

“Our direct-to-consumer model allows us to offer “right-sized”, premium products at an affordable price,” founders Chelsa Crowley and Julie Fredrickson say on their website. They’ve reworked the system to bring quality makeup directly to their customers to keep the price down and the size right. 

Even if you think you get a ton of wear out of your favorite products, you might still be putting yourself at risk of breakouts, allergic reactions or even infection by hanging on to that really cool shade of eyeshadow you purchased for your Nikki Minaj Halloween costume two years ago. Eye makeup is the main culprit when it comes to building up bacteria, and since you’re applying it near your oh-so-vulnerable eyeball, it’s important to make sure it’s fresh.

Here’s a great article from the Huffington Post outlining which makeup products expire after how long. Seriously, those oldies can give you an eye infection that mandates tossing all your products. Take it from me, that is not a fun activity.

If you hate throwing out an almost full product even if it is expired, buying smaller packages is going to be your new skin saver! I’ve been wearing Stowaway all summer and have never felt better about my skin. I’ve tried several expensive brands of foundation and concealer, but these mini bottles are ideal for travel, easy to carry around in a handbag and comfortable for all-day wear.

If you think throwing out a bunch of products puts you at risk of a ho-hum makeup repertoire, take a look at the Stowaway lipsticks. You can stock up on all the shades in mini sizes and not worry about wasting money on a trendy color you might not wear every day. Stowaway has amazing tutorial videos to help you get creative with your look as well.

Sometimes traveling forces you to minimize everything you carry on your person. Makeup can start to take up too much precious space in your suitcase, especially if you aren’t cleaning out your bag and throwing old old items. With Stowaway, your entire makeup bag can go with you in your carry-on and you can fit your lipstick in your pocket for easy touch ups.

I started with a full Stowaway kit and just reordered my Radiant Complexion Beauty Balm and Creaseless Concealer (in fair) as well as Effortless Eyeliner in spice and the Extreme Lash Mascara. I absolutely love the Cheek and Lip Rouge in Peony. The Creme Lipstick in the same shade (pictured above) is so fun, long lasting and keeps my lips hydrated. With just six tiny products, you can create a beautiful, complete look that’s versatile enough for day and night.

When you order a complete kit, all your adorable new products even come with an equally attractive bag to keep them organized.

The sizes are smaller than usual, yes, but don’t think they are just for travel. I’ve officially made the switch to Stowaway for my everyday makeup and I can’t wait to see what new products and colors become available!