Shelf Life of Beauty Products

For this weekend, I decided to clean up my pile of cosmetics and beauty products seeing as the year's about to end (I'm freakin' excited for Christmas!!!)... Now, after cleaning it all up, I suddenly remembered some of my friends who told me that they got their stash of make-up from their moms... And uhh... that somehow bothered me because I remembered one friend saying that it's his mom's "collection" for years. TAKE NOTE: YEARS.

It's no news that every woman will have their own set of makeup which they refer to as their 'rarely' used bunch—which is like code name for 'never used' (unless they finally learn how to mix up that eyeshadow palette for their eyes). So naturally those are left there (to rot, LOL) until 80% of it would have already expired by the time that they remember that they still exist.

It's important therefore to know the shelf life of your beauty products so that you'd know when to throw them out because if you continue to use them, your skin may get infected, get irritations, etc. So anyway...! I decided to help you guys out! I'm giving away few tips on how to find out the expiration date, or if there's none indicated on the bottle—the estimated shelf life, etc. etc. READ ON!

Rules of Expiration

Shelf life of beauty products decrease greatly when they are exposed to light and air; and also when they come in contact with your skin because the oils and bacteria from your fingertips aid in making your product lose its potency/effectiveness. So as a reminder:

1.  It's a big NO-NO if you share your products with someone else because it puts your product at greater risk for contamination; thus reducing its shelf life.
2. It's best to store your make-up in a cool or dry spot.
   COOL SPOT: I often keep my skin care products (lotion, moisturizer, etc) in the refrigerator, I researched before that it helps prolong the shelf life. What's more is that when I apply the solution to my skin, it has a very cooling effect! (Research the products that you CAN store in the refrigerator because of course, not ALL kinds of beauty products can be stuffed up in there.)
   DRY SPOT: I don't think it's advisable to put your makeup (powder form, etc.) in the fridge; so store them in a place that, one (1), isn't your bathroom and, two (2), is away from direct heat/sunlight.
3. Keep the lids tight.
4. As much as possible, refrain from using your fingertips on your beauty products; use instead any applicators such as sponge, brush, etc. If you have to use your hands, do wash it thoroughly.
5. When buying a beauty product, it's better to go for those in tubes/pumps/(and the like) rather than jars because there's less contact of the formula to your skin.

How to know the Expiration Date

• It's indicated in the bottle. LOL.
  Uhm... Duhhh... Haha! This is certainly common sense BUT often times, you wouldn't find it. Lipsticks for one often don't have it indicated on the tube, which then brings us into finding instead the...
• PAO (Period After Opening) Symbol.
  
  This will tell you as to how long the product can be used after opening. The image shows 12M, meaning that your product will be good up to only 12 months after first use. BUT THEN AGAIN not all products have this symbol on them! So now, we have no indication of an expiry date, and then not even a PAO symbol! What to do???? We....
• Try to Know the Estimates!
  Read down:

Estimates

LEGEND:

• Shelf Life
  It is the term during which the beauty product is at its best 'quality/effectiveness' time frame.
  (Using Day 1 as the manufacturing date). So simply put, use this knowledge when you're about to shop for new stock of cosmetics.
• Estimate POA
  Period of how long you can use the product after opening it for the first time.
  

Cosmetics	Description
BLUSH (Also bronzer, etc.)	→ Powder Form: Shelf Life = 2 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 2 years Warning Signs = Change in texture, it becomes so hard it won't budge, change in color → Cream Form: Shelf Life =1 year Estimate POA = Toss after 6 months (or 1 year) Warning Signs = Change in texture, dryness, change in color
CONCEALER	→ Cream and Liquid Form: Shelf Life = 1 year Estimate POA = Can last up to a year Warning Signs = Color starts to shift, thickening/lumpy, oil separates from product → Powder and Stick Form: Shelf Life = 2 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 2 years Warning Signs = Color starts to shift, thickening, can't cover well anymore
EYE SHADOW	→ Cream Form: Shelf Life = 1 year Estimate POA = Can last up to 6-12 months Warning Signs = Dryness, change in color and texture → Powder Form Shelf Life = 2-5 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 1 year Warning Signs = Texture changes when applying, dryness, change in color
EYE LINER	→ Liquid Form: Shelf Life = 2 years Estimate POA =Can last up to 3 months Warning Signs = Change in odor, texture, color, dryness → Pencil Form: Shelf Life = 3 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 1 to 1.5 years *Sharpen it regularly! Warning Signs = White film starts to develop on the tip that can't be sharpened off
EYEBROW PENCIL	Shelf Life = 2 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 1.5 years *Sharpen it regularly! Warning Signs = Can't apply well anymore
FOUNDATION	Shelf Life = (FOR ALL TYPES OF FOUNDATION) 2 years Estimate POA (see below) → Liquid Form: Can last up to 6-12 months Warning Signs = Off smell, thickening → Oil-based: Can last up to 18 months → Oil-free: Can last up to 12 months → Water-based: Can last up to 6-12 months Warning Signs = Off smell, change in color, dryness  → Powder Form (Face Powder): Can last up to 2 years Warning Signs = Off smell, change in color and texture, shiny layer on top
LIP LINER	Shelf Life = 2 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 2 years                     = 6 months only when used everyday Warning Signs = Change in odor, texture, color
LIPSTICK / LIP GLOSS	→ Lipstick: Shelf Life = 4 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 1-2 years                     = 6 to 12 months only when used everyday *Store in refrigerator to last longer! Warning Signs = Off smell, gets hard, can't spread pigment on lips, has water beads → Lip Gloss/Chapsticks: Shelf Life = 4 years Estimate POA = Can last up to 2 years Warning Signs = Off smell, feel streaky and globby
MASCARA	Shelf Life = 1 year Estimate POA = Can last up to 3-6 month                     = 1-2 months only when used everyday *Refrain from pumping it in-and-out; it can reduce the life span and effectiveness Warning Signs = Gasoline-like smell, change in texture

ADDITIONAL REMINDERS:

• General rule: Makeup only lasts (shelf life) to a maximum of 3 years
• Better to opt for cosmetics that are in powder form rather than those in cream form (as you can see, powders have longer shelf life) 

Beauty Products	Description (Estimate POA Only)
BRUSHES	Wash regularly with mild detergent mixed with olive oil. *It is best to wash if not daily, then weekly especially if your skin is prone to acne. Warning Signs = Bristles start to fray or fall
DEODORANT	→ Can last up to 2 years Warning Signs = Depends: it can become sticky/claggy or dry up
FACE CREAMS Moisturizers, etc.	→ Creams in a Jar: Can last up to 6-9 months → Creams from a Pump: Can last up to 1 year → Anti-Aging Formulas: Can last up to 3 months *Easily oxidized → Shaving creams: Can last up to 2 years *Easily oxidized Warning Signs = Change in color, consistency, and smell
HAIR PRODUCTS Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap, Styling, etc.	→ Can last up to 3 to 4 years Warning Signs = Change in color, consistency, and smell
LOTION	→ In Pumps: Can last up to 2-3 years Warning Signs = Turns runny, smells odd, change in color
NAIL POLISH	→ Can last up to 1 year Warning Signs = Becomes thick and clumpy, pigments settling below the bottle
PERFUME	→ Can last up to 2-3 years (or sometimes, even longer) Best to keep it in a cool place (not your fridge), away from sunlight! Warning Signs = Depends. Smell can become weaker or stronger. May smell like alcohol.
RAZOR	Dispose after 6 or so shaves
SPONGE	→ Cheap Makeup Sponge: Dispose after two uses                                  (front side and back side) → High-Quality Makeup Sponge: Dispose after 1-2 months *Wash it regularly; if not daily, then weekly
SUNSCREEN	→ Can last up to 1 year Warning Signs = Turns from white to yellow, smells like medicine, change in texture (runny)

ADDITIONAL REMINDERS:

• Take note that when you buy beauty products that are labeled as all natural, their estimate POA or shelf life will be generally SHORTER due to the fact that natural products commonly use plant-derived substances which may be conducive for microbial growth; hence, higher risk of contamination.
• Basically... when to know if your beauty products have gone bad? Use your common sense

» » Personally, I label my beauty products with a marker showing the expiration date from the time I opened it up. I advise that you develop this habit as well so that it can save you from the trouble.

...And that's about it!

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me (comment below this post or go here [ click ] for my contact form). Or you know, save yourself the hassle and just ask good ol' Google. Thanks! 

SOURCES: Cosmopolitan PH Magazine, MichellePhan.com, About.com, EverydayHealth.com, and own knowledge.

"I am Aileen" : Shelf Life of Beauty Products