Are your beauty products doing you more harm than good? It’s important to find out the shelf life of make up products and other cosmetics.
Products stop performing their best after their expiry date and can actually be more of a hindrance than a help in the quest for looking your best.
Here’s your fail-safe guide to only owning fresh, useable products.
Skin care
Beauty cupboards are overloaded with the latest products for beautiful skin. Compared with other beauty products, skin care products have the longest life span, but it’s important to be aware of ‘off’ products.
Anti-aging creams and serums exist effectively for three months to a year, depending on what type of product it is and the ingredients it contains. The antioxidants in these creams and serums are easily oxidised, usually a change in colour will occur. When this happens, it’s time to throw it out and buy a new one!
– Body lotions last up to two to three years, less if it’s in a pump container.
– Moisturising bath oils remain effective up until one year.
– It’s wise to check the sunscreen packaging for the expiry date.
– Bar soaps last up to three years.
– Make sure not to use shaving cream bought after two years.
– Deodorants should be used as soon as they’re bought, but if not they’ll last up to two years.
– Facial toners need to be tossed in the bin after one year, but if it contains vitamin C, the nutrients can lose effectiveness in less than a year.
– Natural body washes last for six months at a time
Makeup
The average woman overloads on makeup products, including eyeshadows, foundations, lipsticks, liners and mascara. How long should they be in your beauty bag?
Foundation, whether liquid or powder, expires over time. Most liquids bottles are designed to last up to two years, even if you didn’t use it which probably means you didn’t love it in the first place. Powder is also good for two years. Bacterial growth occurs, leading to irritation and breakouts if left longer
Mascara and liquid eyeliner can live in bathroom drawers for up to three to four months. Be diligent about swapping these items to prevent infections. If mascara is unopened it will last up to two years.
Consumers definitely get their money’s worth with eye and lip pencils, with a lifespan of three to five years. Sharpening the pencils also preserve them longer, each time you sharpen you remove bacteria.
Those fabulous lipsticks and lip glosses bought every month will keep the makeup bag full, lasting two to three years. Be careful, like most things, they dry out with age.
When nail polish expires it turns ‘gooey’, so it’s important to keep nails looking healthy and manicured by changing polish every year.
Brushes don’t necessarily need to be thrown out like other products do but for hygienic reasons it’s important to wash them thoroughly every two to three months. Use a mild detergent or a brush cleaner. Sponges, on the other had, need to be washed weekly and discarded monthly.
Hair
A good hair day involves a great shampoo and conditioner, accompanied by some exceptional styling products.
Shampoo and conditioner can remain in your bathroom for about three years. After this time, water and air can break down the formula, depreciating its efficiency.
Favourite hairstyling products live for up to three to five years. They have a long lifespan due to their alcohol content, which helps to preserve the formula.
Fragrance
Perfume should be stored in a cool, dark place for optimum life. Fragrances preserve their beautiful scents for about two years.
