Have you ever considered how many skincare products you own and how long you have had them? I bet if you counted all of the half-used bottles, tubs and containers hanging around at the back of drawers and cupboards (or even on your dressing table), you’d be quite amazed at how many you have amassed.
I think it’s safe to say we all have those staple products that we use daily. Generally speaking, these products include a cleanser, maybe a toner, a moisturiser, an SPF, and a handful of our favourite makeup products. We use these products in our daily routine, and because we use them so often, they are firmly within our thoughts, so we run out and buy more, and the cycle continues.
But how about those products that you love but maybe don’t use as frequently? Perhaps that luxury serum, face mask, expensive body butter, or even that high-end lipstick that you save for special occasions? These are the products we love but don’t use as frequently as our everyday essentials, and therefore, they will sit around for longer, but for how long?
Hanging around
Have you ever looked through your skincare products and realised some of them have been hanging around for years? Maybe they got pushed to the back of the cupboard, maybe you purchased a new one and forgot about it, maybe you found one stuck down the back of your dressing table or just maybe you love it so much you use it sparingly to make it last longer. Whatever the reason, you can’t actually remember when you bought it!
We often don’t think about these products and that they do actually expire. What does that mean when they expire? Does it just mean we ‘shouldn’t’ use it but still do, or will it have a negative impact on our skin?
How long is long?
Well, dear reader, as a rule of thumb, if you can’t remember when you purchased your skincare products because it was that long ago (not just because you bought them a couple of weeks ago and are a little forgetful 🤣 – that said, I record every sale so I should quite easily be able to tell you how long you have had them), but I would say, it’s safe to say you should be looking at the expiry date first.
Potential risks
When a product is past its prime and use-by date, it can mean that if you continue to use it, there may be some risks involved. For some professional skincare products, this often means they don’t work as well, as the active ingredients will start to deplete over time; however, for others, it could have more severe consequences, especially if the products have already been opened and used a few times but then been forgotten about for many months.
Some of these can include;
- Skin irritation
- Rashes
- Blemishes
- Skin infection
- Eye infection
Why do my skincare products expire?
You may be wondering why your skincare products expire; after all, it’s not like they are food products; we don’t have to consume them. But I sure don’t want to be massaging gone-off products into my skin! Bleughhhhh! Let me share with you a few reasons to what may happen to skincare products that have been sitting around for a long time;
- Around expiration, the active composition and ingredients of your products may start to deplete, so they will not be as effective.
- The consistency and texture of your products may change.
- Oxidisation can occur, making ingredients ineffective.
- Bacteria may grow inside your product, causing skin irritation and breakouts, especially if you are dipping your fingers in and out of tubs.
- Preservatives in products can lose their effectiveness over time and cause bacteria overgrowth.
- Odour may change and become unpleasant.
- The oils within your product can become ‘phase’ separated.
How do we know it has expired?
Okay, so it’s all well and good to avoid using skincare products that have expired, but how do you know when they have expired?
Sometimes, manufacturers put an expiration date stamp on the bottom or near the top of the product or its packaging. However, you may not see a definitive expiration date, as it’s only required when a batch code that identifies the manufacturing date of the product is not printed on the packaging. You may notice a symbol on the product (that looks like an open jar) and a month. For example, if it says 12m, it means that the product will expire 12 months after opening, even if the product has been sitting around unopened for many months.
What about if you haven’t opened it, will it still expire?
The short answer is yes. Most skincare products contain active ingredients that will deplete and expire.
In general, many skincare products will be okay for two to three years after their production if unopened, as they will have been stability tested by the manufacturer; if the products have been opened, it is often around six or twelve months. Vitamin A products such as retinol may be shorter. However, this will depend on the brand, ingredients, and how they are stored, so please do check each individual product to get the most out of it.
Examples of expirations
Some products will of course, expire much faster than you may think, and as I said before, do always check each product, but here are some general examples of products that may expire faster than you think;
(after opening)
- Sunscreen – between six and twelve months. Never risk using an expired/out-of-date sunscreen or one that has been opened since last summer, as the protection will have depleted.
- Moisturiser – often up to 1 year or 18 months.
- Active vitamin products such as serums – between three weeks and one year.
- Face masks – between three months and one year.
Moving forward
If you wish to take more care with your products and know how long you have had them, here are some tips to start using (if you don’t already) moving forward;
- Track when you open your products. They will start to deteriorate as soon as you open them, so write the date down with a marker pen when you open them. You can also have a little notepad where you can write down what products you have, when you purchased them, when you opened them, and the expiry date if they have one.
- Have regular clearouts of your skincare products; maybe go through them and check the dates every 6 months.
- If you have unopened products and are unsure how long you have had them, air on the side of caution and discard them.
Remember that taking care of your skin is an investment. Prevention is so much easier than correction!