Every year people have item after item on their New Year’s Resolution list (i.e., getting organized, losing weight, eating better). If you are like most people, some of those items continue to show up year after year with not much headway being made on them. So here is something you CAN accomplish and help your skin at the same time! Throw out expired skin care products!
Yes that includes sunscreen. You may half a bottle left but don’t put your skin and your health at risk. Get in the New Year’s spirit of “Out with the Old and in with the New.”
Start with the easy ones..the ones with the expiration dates on them such as sunscreens, some acne products and prescription skincare products. Once the date is passed, throw it out. It has lost effectiveness and in the case of sunscreen puts your health at risk for burns. Also, products may get contaminated after so long with bacteria. Keep in mind that if not stored properly, products may expire and become tainted prior to that date.
Realize that there are no regulations or requirements under current U.S. law for cosmetic products to have expiration dates printed on the labels so here are some rules of thumb:
- Throw out skincare products that have separated, changed color, smell funny, changed scent significantly, changed texture dramatically, or just doesn’t feel right anymore when applied to the skin.
- If the container holding your product has expanded than this is a sign that the product needs to be thrown away.
- Products that contain water as one of the first ingredients have the shortest shelf life after opening because water encourages the growth of bacteria and other microbes.
- Also susceptible to bacterial contamination are products that are mostly waxes with minimal water, but that also contain plant extracts. Think about how long produce lasts in your refrigerator—not very long!
- If your product is labeled “preservative-free” definitely take extra caution, because without some kind of preservative system bacteria can flourish easily
