Yes! Though it can be difficult to throw away your partially full bottles of your favorite skincare products, in time it’s necessary. It’s always fun trying new skin care options, and over time your collection can grow into a vast assortment of goodies. With such an array of moisturizers, serums, and exfoliants on the market; trying all of them seems to be the best way to find the right one for you. Unfortunately, with so many products – and a limited amount of skin to use them on – most of these products expire while still in their bottles.
Where is the expiration date?
Most of us are guilty of not even considering expiration dates when it comes to skincare products – and in most cases there is no expiration date labeled on them. The FDA, the section of the government whose responsibility is the protection of public health, requires the manufacturer to deem the shelf life for its products. Cosmetics, unlike over-the-counter drug products, are not technically required to be labeled with a date of expiration. So, some products simply won’t carry a specific expiration date. But you may have seem the little symbol that looks like an open jar on the side of your product. That symbol carries a “code” indicating how many months after opening the product will remain “fresh.” So if you see that symbol, you can estimate how long you’ll be able to use the product safely once it’s been opened.
How long should I keep my skincare products?
In most cases, skincare products have a shelf life of 24 to 36 months. Many of our favorite skin care products contain active ingredients, which tend to degrade and lose their efficacy over time. The minimum time frame for a product’s efficacy in the US and in the European Union is 30 months, according to Jasmi Bonner, a veteran in the beauty industry. The longer you have a product – especially if it’s been opened – the less effective it is. And while many products won’t actually harm you if they’ve outlasted their shelf life, there are some products and ingredients that can wreak havoc with your skin once the ingredients begin to lose their efficacy.
Why do skincare products expire?
Many of the ingredients used in skincare products are the same as those used in food and medicine. Fresh skincare products are like fresh food; the sooner you use them, the more beneficial they are to your body. We all know if you keep food for too long, its nutritional value decreases – until ultimately it begins to grow bacteria or mold. The same thing can happen to your beloved skincare products. If you are looking to get the most out of your products do not buy them in bulk and use what you have before adding to your ever-expanding product drawer. It’s important to remember that natural and organic skin care products may have an even shorter shelf life as they use natural preservatives – or in some cases, no preservatives at all – and they may expire more quickly.
Expiration date reminders
When was this opened?
If you can not remember how long a skin care product has been sitting in your drawer it is best to throw it away. Writing on the product bottle when it was purchased – or opened – can help, if like most of us you have a wide selection in your stash.
What is that smell?
When you open one of your skincare products and it has a different or strange odor or color THROW IT AWAY! When there are alterations of smell or appearance, that is a sign deteriorating health and overall freshness.
Test in small amounts
Most skincare products come in trial or sample sizes – how convenient! Why not try before you buy? Sampling the product to make sure you are happy with its results before buying a large quantity is a good way to cut your losses if you’re not satisfied with a product.
Fresh is best.
Your skin, like your body, thrives when it is exposed to fresh ingredients. Using a product sooner rather than later will improve its efficacy. Thus improving its results and ultimately working better.
Product life extension
Some tips for getting the most out of your product are to store them in a cool place; they do not like the heat. Also keep them out of direct sunlight; this just speeds up the heating process and can cause the oils in your products to turn bad quickly. While most of us use our products in the bathroom, that’s one of the worst places to store product, as it tends to be a warm, damp room. Keep products in a drawer in your bedroom, or on a shelf away from sunlight – somewhere where they will stay relatively cool, dry, and protected. Then you can get the most out of the products you love. Reviva Labs wants to make sure you are using the freshest products, so each of our boxes, bottles, and jars is labeled with a lot number and expiration date.
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