Is It Time To Replace Your Products?
By Marji Soofi
Would you eat produce that has perished, I am pretty sure you would not. This train of thought should apply to your skin care and makeup as well. We all pay attention to expiration dates on food and medications, but how often do you consider the freshness of the cosmetic products you use regularly? Expired products can cause unwanted reactions such as allergies, acne, dry skin, skin infection, bumpiness, and spots. Almost all skin products have a distinct shelf life. This may vary on the products ingredients. Organic products tend to expire at a quicker rate as they usually do not contain preservatives.
Be aware of the following factors when checking your products:
Odor. When a product is new it should smell fresh and inviting. Manufacturers may add fragrances to maintain the original scent, but when a product is old you definitely can notice a difference in the scent. The product may smell bad or rancid because it has become oxidized.
Texture. Products should have a consistent feel. When the components of a product separate the texture does not have a pleasant feel. It may become gritty, dry, brittle, or oily.
Bacteria. Preservatives are used to protect the products from spoiling but even so bacterial build up can happen especially in expired products.
Color. A Slight change of color is not unusual, but if there is an immense change for example, a soft white to a deep orange, it may be time to throw this product out.
Consistency. Chemical changes in products affect its contingency and its potency. For example, sunscreens that are old will not have the SPF protection that they should have.
Appearance. Changes in texture, separation of oil and water, dried out, changes in consistency, and color, indicate the product has gone bad.
The Best way to store and use products
Contrary to popular belief, bathrooms are not the best place to store your products. Ideally products should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. The bottles and jar lids should be firmly shut to help reduce oxidation. Always wash hands before dipping into jars. Pumps are an easy way to dispenses lotions and creams and act as a barrier against bacterial growth.
Expiration Guidelines
Products tend to have expiration dates on the containers but did you know they also tend to have a symbol that indicates the lifetime of the product once it has been opened. The period-after-opening symbol or PAO symbol is a graphic symbol that identifies the useful lifetime of a cosmetic product after its package has been opened for the first time. It depicts an open cosmetics pot and is used together with a written number of months or years.
Acne creams should be used within three to four months from first being opened. Products containing glycolic, retinol, antioxidants like vitamin C and E, or anything labeled anti-aging, should be discarded after six months. If products are used correctly and routinely you should have finish it within six months. Don’t try to make your products go further by using too little, it will just go bad anyway, so why not get the benefits while it is fresh. Sunscreen, moisturizer, and eye cream should be discarded after one year. Sunscreen should have an expiration date, but if you can’t find it, don’t use it.
Common Product Life Expectancies
Facial masks: 12-18 months
Mascara, liquid gel eyeliners: 3 months
Lipsticks, lip liners, lip gloss, cream: shadows, blushes, bronzers, concealers: 12-18 months
Powder shadows, face powder, bronzers, blushes: 2 years
Cream compacts, foundations: 12-18 months
Mark your products when you open them so you can have an idea when to replace it!