When should we toss out our skincare products?

Now is the time to clear out your closets and reorganize your vanity. I hope you got that urge to get organized now since our circuit breaker is ending, we are bound to get caught up with our lives once again.

Just a couple weeks ago when I was cleaning out my beauty corner, I realized there were so many half-finished bottles of skincare lotions/creams and packet masks from years ago when I have yet to adopt the clean organic beauty lifestyle. This is a topic worthy for another discussion.

I refused to throw these old skincare products for the longest time because of how much they costed me and also how little I have used them. I kept thinking that perhaps there would be another use for these creams by smearing them on my elbows, knees and such. But I never did.

Some of these products still look and smell like how they did when I first used them but being more educated on skincare products since my formulation diploma course, I know that looks can really be deceiving. Some beauty products don’t even have expiry dates on them but if they do, you would be able to find it in the form of a small picture that looks like an open jar, which indicates how long the formula is good for once it is opened (products start oxidizing once they are opened, just like apples when cut). That is on the assumption that you have stored it correctly.

Here are some guidelines for when you should toss out your various skincare products.

Sunscreen

~2 years

When you see a changes in shade(especially from white to yellow), smell or that the cream is separating

Sunscreens should have a long shelf life but if these bottles are left exposed to heat/ sun, the actives in the sunscreen and its carrier ingredients start to break down faster.

Shampoo

~1 year

But you really should be washing more often/ using more product if your shampoo can last you for that long!

Do not dilute your shampoos or soaps with water especially when it is almost finished and you are trying to get the last bit of it. The preservatives if any in the product only confers protection over that percentage mixture it came in. If you are using a gel shampoo, they should last longer than a creamy one (due to the oils in the cream based one).

Soaps and Cleansers

~1 year

Again like shampoos, if your soaps can last you for more than 1 year, you’re either living in the Artic or you need to reevaluate your hygiene.

Refer to shampoos.

Moisturizers

~ 1 year

If your moisturizer comes in a jar, the lifespan should be cut by half. As dipping your fingers into the jar would introduce germs into it.

Serums

~1 year

But the stability/ effectiveness of active ingredients could be lost earlier. For e.g. vitamin c which is notorious to include in a formulation with shelf life as it starts breaking down almost immediately.

serums cost a little more than the other products due to the actives in them. Therefore, the lifespan of your serums should be tied to the stability of its actives. Which should more often than not, cut the lifespan by half. Even though applying them for a year should not have any harmful effects given the product’s integrity is still unchanged.

Foundation

~1 year

But if you are dipping tools or fingers into your foundation, this lifespan should be cut down by half.  

You do not want to introduce bacteria, fungus and such into the foundation then smearing it onto your face. Due to the colour and opacity of foundations, it is harder to tell if it has “gone bad”.

Mascara

~3 to 6 months

And never try to extend its lifespan by adding water.

Mascara wands come into contact with body fluids and the way it is stored can introduce bacteria and yeast into the tube. Toss it out if there is a funny smell or if the mascara is thick and clumpy. And if you had used it while having an eye infection, definitely throw out that tube.

Lipstick and lip products

~6 months to 1 year

Lip products come into contact so often to skin oils, bacteria and oxygen. It is then kept in the dark of our makeup pouches for most part. It Is a breeding ground for pathogens and applying it on your lips would mean you’re probably ingesting it too.

Nail Polish

~1 year

When the color separate from the ingredients or become thick and clumpy. Take note of whether your nail salon has good hygiene practices. They usually use the same bottles of nail polish for all their customers and sometimes, infection can happen. If you happen to get toenail fungus, it is not only difficult to treat, you might end up losing the entire nail.

Thick and clumpy nail polishes can be made more fluid by adding acetone. But if they start to smell bitter, toss them out.

How do you make your products last the way they should?

DOS

- Store products in a cool dry place. Small skincare fridges just for your skincare products are the best.

- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before using products. If you are using a product outdoors, make sure it dispenses itself.

- Tighten/secure the cap after each use. Never leave your jars open.

- Take note of the climate and humidity you live in and where the product was initially designed for.

- Throw out products you use on your skin if you used it on an infected area.

- Always abide by the expiration dates on all products even if the look, smell and texture is still the same.  

- Clean the cap or lid with soap and water/ alcohol and dry completely if you had dropped it onto the floor.

DON’TS

- Buy products that are packaged into a jar. Due to double dipping and exposure to the surroundings, there is a high risk of contamination.

- Store your products out of direct sunlight. Especially when you are using your sunblock at the beach.

- Share your makeup and skincare products with others.

- Add water to thin out or wet products.

- introduce more oxygen into your mascara by pumping the wand up and down when using the product.