How Do I Know How Long My Products Should Last?
It’s really important that you’re not applying products to your face that are way past their sell by dates. Think of it like the food we eat, you wouldn’t eat that out of date pot of yoghurt at the back of the fridge so why would you use an out of date beauty product? Not only could it cause breakouts, but remember everything going onto your skin carries on down straight through your body. Plus, if those all important active ingredients have completely gone off, then those 30 minutes you’ve just spent on your ten step regime could have been a complete waste of your time!
Instead of taking a guess and potentially harming your skin, try looking for these secret symbols…
The little tub with a lid symbol that has a 6M or 12M printed inside it is known as ‘Period After Opening’. Nearly all products you’ll come across have a shelf life of over 30 months when left unopened so the 6 or 12 indicates it’s completely safe for use for that number of months after opening. The next symbol you need to get to know is the hourglass symbol with a date stamped nearby, this indicates the ‘Best Before Date’. So, if you’re wanting to know when the product should be used before, then look out for this!
How Can I Prolong The Life Of My Products?
Despite these useful symbols, they don’t take into consideration how you store your products once you bring them home. Ensuring that the conditions you store your skincare in will make a big difference in the long run. So if you’ve been storing your favourites in the bathroom or on the windowsill, it’s time to give them a break and move them elsewhere, afterall the humidity and constant temperature changes play havoc on those all important formulas that work magic on your skin!
When Will My Skincare & Makeup Expire?
Again, this all depends on how it’s stored. A moisturiser in a pump tube can usually remain slightly fresher for longer than a moisturiser stored in a jar, but in general, most skin saviour products like moisturisers, face masks, serums and eye creams will survive between six months to a year.
For makeup, it’s a little different, because the consistency of makeup is so important for its efficacy, it’s actually easier to tell by, sight and feel, whether it’s time they were thrown out! For example, mascara with clog and pencils will dry out, when you see those changes, unfortunately it’s time to say goodbye to your holy grail products. But don’t worry, it’s not just because they’ll apply badly, but because they’ll fill with bacteria over time and we don’t want you to risk damage to your precious complexion. Just remember that products around our eyes have the shortest shelf life with mascaras and liquid liners lasting around three months, foundation and concealers around a year and your favourite lip products and powder products can last between three and five years!
Thank you for reading, we hope you’ve enjoyed this post! Come and take a look at the incredible fragrance and beauty brands we stock!
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