When beauty products expire

WE’RE always talking about the importance of keeping our make-up stash clean, and making sure we utilise it properly. This means storing them properly and using the products before they expire. Still using that lumpy mascara? Throw it out before you get an eye infection, please!

But what about our toilettries and skincare products? We use that everyday too. Sometimes I take it for granted that the moisturisers, sunscreens, toner, shampoo and all that jazz don’t last forever.

Expiry dates apply to every consumable product, and once the products are opened, the clock starts ticking because of the exposure to air, light and bacteria.

But what makes it worse is knowing that sometimes even if your products are sealed properly, things like heat and humidity can cause the items to degrade over time.

Generally, products like toilettries and beauty items like perfumes, when they expire, aren’t as bad as make-up. Make-up, like expired mascara, will more likely give you eye infection while an expired perfume could just smell a little off. Or if your anti-dandruff shampoo reached its expiry date, it probably won’t do the job to keep your head flake-free.

But if you apply an expired sunscreen, you can expect a little irritation on the skin, or it won’t function the way it’s supposed to, leaving your skin toasted in the sun.

Let’s break down the shelf life of some beauty products. I used to love showering with loofahs because I like that they exfoliate my skin. But after realising that I’ve used one for far too long without realising the bacteria it had accumulated, I never bought another loofah again. If you’re one to shower with loofahs, just be sure to replace them after three months, or sooner if your bathroom is particularly damp and humid. They’re cute and colourful, but all that don’t matter if you’re showering with a mould-infected loofah.