HOW TO...
Tell If Your Beauty Products Have Expired
N
othing lasts forever, no matter how
much we want it to. Unfortunately,
that means your long-loved moistur-
iser won’t stand the test of time and that lipstick
you save for special occasions probably won’t
make it to the next family wedding. Just like
the food you consume, the products you apply
to your skin have best before and use by dates
that you need to stick to, otherwise be prepared
for a spate of unwanted breakouts, inflammation,
dryness and irritation.
European cosmetics regulation states that all
skin care and beauty products must display
details of how long a product can be safely used
for somewhere on its packaging. This is shown
as a Period After Opening or PAO symbol. This
looks like an open jar with a number followed
by a capital M next to it. The number and letter
indicate how many months a product is safe to
use after opening, for example, 12M means 12
months after opening and 24M means 24
months or two years. Another symbol to look
out for is the Best Before Date, which is used
on products that have a general lifespan of less
than 30 months, shown as an egg timer with a
date next to it such as 04/2019. Most products
have a shelf life of 30 months if left unopened
and it is on these products where a PAO symbol
is used instead.
But what if you are unsure how long a product
has been open for? Luckily, there are ways to
determine if a product you are using has gone
bad. If it’s a product you are familiar with, look
out for any changes in texture (has it become
lumpy and gloopy or turned thin and runny?),
appearance (has the colour become dull?) or scent
(does it smell funky or has the floral scent turned
sour?). For liquids and creams, check if the
product has separated and test it on the back of
your hand to see if it applies differently. If you
can answer yes to any of these, it’s time for your
much-loved product to find the bin. Powder
products tend to last the longest while cream,
liquid and water-based formulas tend to go off
quickest, as it’s easier for bacteria and microbes
to grow where moisture is present. Eye products
are also prone to bacteria and can cause a nasty
infection in some instances, so keep a close, erm,
eye on those.
The best way to keep your skin care and beauty
products useable for as long as possible is to
limit their chances of contamination. Keeping
them somewhere cool and dry will help prevent
bacteria growth, while replacing the lids on
jars and compacts properly after use will ensure
oxidisation is kept to a minimum. It might
sound obvious, but applying your skin care
with clean fingers and your make-up with
clean tools that only you have used will ensure
bacteria and microbes can’t be passed around
your collection. As a rule of thumb, if it looks
weird, smells odd or feels strange, it’s time to
say goodbye.
Product Expiry Dates Cheat Sheet
Cleansers and Toners: 6 months to a year
AHA and BHA Exfoliators: Around 12 months
Moisturisers: Around 12 months
Sunscreen: 12 months to 2 years
Liquid Foundation: Around 12 months
Pressed and Loose Powder: 2 years or longer
Mascara and Eyeliner: 4-6 months
Lipstick and Gloss: Up to 2 years
ISSUE #10 | 2019 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 13