Cheat Sheet on When to Know If It’s Time to Toss Your Skincare Products Away
Let’s admit it. Skincare can be sooooo addictive! We tend to purchase a lot of products and eventually forget about some of them. You probably have a couple of products that have been sitting there, untouched, for years. You might not quite be in the mood to declutter, but now would be a good time to see which products are still usable and which ones are better off in the trash.
Skincare products, like all the other products, have their expiration dates. And when it comes to editing your collection, a great hack is to start throwing away those that have already past their shelf life. How to know this, you ask? Most skincare products have a tiny little symbol of a pot with an open lid somewhere in the packaging—the text inside indicates how many months it can last after opening. Don’t worry if the icon or expiry date isn’t legible or has faded over time. We put together a handy guide so you know which products are still good and which ones you can toss out. (These expiration dates are based on when the products were first opened)
1. Facial Cleanser
Shelf Life after opening: 6 months
Cleansers are safe to use up to six months from opening, but it’s also important to note if you find changes in its consistency or smell even before the six-month mark.
2. Toner
Shelf Life after opening: One year
While you shouldn’t apply toner on your face that’s past its shelf life, you can still keep them for a different purpose. PRO TIP: You can use expired toners to clean glass, mirrors, and even your phone screen.
3. Serum
Shelf Life after opening: Six months to one year
If you’ve built up quite a collection already, you might want to check if they’re still safe to use. Most serums can last six months to one year from the first time you opened it.
4. Moisturizer
Shelf Life after opening: Six months to one year
Moisturizers come in various packaging but those that come in pots can easily be contaminated with yeast and bacteria, so it’s important to always check if there’s a change in color, consistency, or smell. If something’s off, best not to use it.
5. Eye Cream
Shelf Life after opening: Six months to one year
Signs of contamination include discoloration and changes in smell and consistency—if you find any of these in your eye cream, it’s time to toss.
6. Sunscreen
Shelf Life after opening: One year
This one usually doesn’t reach it’s expiration date (if you are really religious in putting this on everyday, even when indoors) because it’s a product that you cannot skip. But if you happen to have unfinished tube lying around the house and you can’t remember when you opened them, check if there’s something off about its smell, color, and consistency and toss it out if there is.
7. Body Lotion
Shelf Life after opening: up to 1.5 years for organic lotion and 3 years for the non-organic ones (with chemicals)
Unopened lotions can generally last up to three years if they have chemical components or non-organic while the organic ones like Eminence Skincare Lotion typically last up to 2 years. But if you want to be sure, keep your lotion away from direct sunlight and store it in a cool place. Watch out for any change in color, consistency, smell, etc. and throw it away if you find any significant change.