Do not believe what is written: what is wrong with the expiration dates of cosmetics

Why do cosmetics spoil prematurely if the shelf life says otherwise? We figure out how to avoid disappointment in mascara or face cream by trusting the label on the package.

What's wrong with the expiration dates of your favorite mascara or face mask if it expires before the expiration date on the package? We tell you why this happens and how to avoid financial losses due to the fact that the product has deteriorated after a couple of tests.

How is an open tube different from a closed one?

Thanks to online shopping and bouts of shopaholism, ten bottles of shower gel or facial tonic can be stored in your home. I want to try everything at once, so it's not always possible to honestly use the same tool every day. Some of the tubes or jars will still stand idle for weeks, if not months. When you think about them, you may encounter an unpleasant "surprise" – for example, a strange smell, stratification, or a change in the texture of the product. Unfortunately, most often this indicates that the beauty product has become unusable. But what if the packaging says otherwise?

The expiration date indicated on the label is called shelf life – and it is calculated on the fact that cosmetics are stored in sealed packaging. It turns out that this is the period from the date of production, during which the product must be used. If you have already opened a beauty product, then its shelf life is significantly reduced. For example, a face mask with a shelf life of 3 years after opening can remain usable for 6-12 months. 

Failure to comply with the shelf life of printed cosmetics is fraught with various problems. Among them is not only a changed aroma, but also allergic reactions from rashes to burns. Especially if you use organic products, where the shelf life from the start of use can be 1-2 months. When purchasing beauty products for the future, try not to violate the integrity of the packaging ahead of time. 

What is the actual shelf life of cosmetics?

The longest lasting ones are in compact and powdery textures like blush, shadows, highlighters, bronzers. They can be used for several years if no film or hard coating has appeared on the surface of the product. Liquid liners and mascara should not be stored for longer than 2-3 months. Moreover, it is impossible to “reanimate" dried eye products in order to avoid conjunctivitis.

Foundations and cream textures are best purchased in pump bottles to protect the product from germs. But after 12-18 months it is better to go to the store for a new tube. But lipsticks and lip glosses can exfoliate ahead of time, although the manufacturer expects that you will use them for 12-15 months.

Face or body cream in the presence of natural ingredients is recommended to be used for no more than 6 months. Some formulations with active ingredients such as retinol, vitamin E oil or vitamin C begin to lose effectiveness after 1-2 months from the moment you open the jar.