Has your makeup expired?
Did you know most skincare and cosmetic products have a 6-12-month expiry period. Since it’s the start of the year it’s a great time to take a look at our skincare essentials. Every single product we buy has an expiration or best before date. As a general rule of thumb, never keep a product more than 3 years. Most don’t even last that long! Let’s talk about some key things you can look out for to see if your products have expired:
THE LITTLE M CHECK
What number is next to the M on your product? If you didn’t catch on, M stand for months. The number of months starts from when you break the seal. In most cases, the opened-shelf-life is 3, 6, 12 or 24 months. If your product comes inside extra packaging like a little box or plastic packet, it may also have an expiration date printed on it. With more and more products opting to be composed of paraben free, natural, and/or organic ingredients, their lifespan are becoming shorter and shorter. Do a quick check while you’re instore and make note when to top-up your favourite buys.
SMELL TEST
Do a quick sniff test, does it smell a little off? Over time bacteria builds up and an unusual smell is a key indicator. Mascara is a fun one - when they have gone ‘bad’ they can let off a gasoline-like smell. If your favourite cream or cleanser smells a little stale or dull, perhaps you’ve held onto it for too long. You might be thinking what about if my product is fragrance free? Pay closer attention to the colour or texture of these bad boys, if the colour has oxidised and doesn’t return to normal; toss-em. This is common with nail polish. If the colour has faded or yellowed, a reaction between oxygen and the pigment. To check your polish, give it a shake, if it separates it’s time to part ways.
IRRITATED SKIN EXAM
Notice more blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples popping up lately? Using old products can cause irritation to show up like this. It’s pretty self-explanatory that an expired product could cause you to break out. Bacteria can build up into a big gluggy mess and disrupt the microorganisms on your face. Bacteria can compromise your skin barrier and cause oil and dirt build-up. Trust us, you don’t want a skin infection on your face so you’re better off spending a few extra dollars on a replacement. This is especially so when it comes to eye-related products such as mascara, eye liner, cream, and eyeshadow. Eye infections are the most common cross infection, and you can’t hide pink eye with your concealer.
COLOUR AND TEXTURE CHANGE
Over time the ingredients in cosmetics break down and certain ingredients become less effective. Thinner or thicker, chunky or funky, it’s a no from us. But we get it, you may want to get every drop out of your money spent. Sometimes it’s worth taking your loses though, why use something if it’s not going to do what you intended? You can prolong the lifespan of cosmetics by storing them in cool, dry places. This will slow down bacterial and fungal growth and emulsion. But don’t forget, bacteria and fungi can be invisible to the naked eye, and we don’t want a pesky eye infection. Toss out the old and make way for the new.