If your vanity cabinet shelves are lined with product bottles galore–to the point where one might fall and break at any given moment–you're not alone. There's something so fun about having all of those lotions and potions at your disposal (even if realistically you only need a few). Other than the risk of one falling out of your cabinet and shattering on the floor, there is another downside to consider: these products don't last forever. Time is ticking on that jar of La Mer that's collecting dust as you await the perfect moment to use it. So, the burning question is: how long do skincare products really last?
We spoke with esthetician Teresa Stenzel and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rishi Chopra, for more on the ins and outs of product shelf life.
Meet the Expert
- Teresa Stenzelis an esthetician and the director of education for skincare company Biolements, where she helps develop new facial and body treatment techniques.
- Dr.RishiChopra is a board-certified dermatologist atUnionDerm, practicing in the Hamptons and Central Park, New York.
Do Skincare Products Have Expiration Dates?
Yes. In fact, for most skin and body care products, there's an easy way to find out how long the shelf life is. Sometimes you will find an actual expiration date with the month and year, similar to what you would see on food or medication. It can often be foundon the back of the bottle or the bottom of the jar.
If there's not an actual date, there might be a tiny image of an opened jar with a number on it: six, 12, 24, or 36. This refers to the 'period after opening' (PAO) and it recommends the maximum number of months a product should be used before discarding, explains Dr. Chopra. He advises using this date as a “hard toss” date — "a.k.a throw it out no matter what."
"Some products may not contain either," Chopra notes, so in thatcase, it requires a little more legwork on your part.
What if a Skincare Product Doesn't Show an Expiration Date?
If the product doesn't have a date or this symbol on the container, one-to-two years is a good rule of thumb for its shelf life, unless otherwise stated on the packaging. "While products can vary, in general, unopened products have ashelflifeof approximately two years when stored properly," says Stenzel. "After a product is opened, it should be used as directed, within one year. Of course, this does not apply to over-the-counter products like sunscreens or acne formulas, which will have an expiration date listed on the packaging."
Dr. Chopra has another idea: Jot down your own expiration. "I always recommend clearly labeling your products as soon as they are opened with the date to make it easier to track how long they have been in your skincare lineup," he says. Make it easy on yourself by keeping a marker with your products so that you can keep track of when you start using a product. This can help you monitor how long it's taking for you to see results, too.
Use your best judgment—if you think it's time to toss it, it probably is.You'll know it ifyou notice the following signs:
- A bad or rotten smell
- The product has separated
- The texture has changed
- The color has changed
- There are black, green, or blue mold spots
Key Takeaways
- The expiration date is most likely to be on the back or bottom of the container.
- The general tole of thumb is to toss a product after one or two years of use.
- Keeping an item past its expiration date can cause irritation, rashes, or breakouts due to invisible bacteria.
What if a Product Doesn't Contain Preservatives?
A word about preservatives:There are many small, independent skincare companies these days that sellproducts directly to consumers.Many ofthese, as well as organic products in general, do not use preservatives.In these cases,the products have very short shelf lives,especially if they're packaged in jars (aka are exposed to air, light, bacteria, etc.). Consider storing these in therefrigerator, and plan to use them quickly.
"Products with natural ingredients and those that are preservative-free spoil faster than those that aren’t," says Dr. Chopra. "Broad-spectrum preservatives help prevent the growth of bacteria and yeasts. These products can be hotbeds for organisms to grow, so be particularly careful with these."
When to Throw a Product Out
Certain products are required by the FDA to have an expiration date on them, including sunscreens and acne treatments that contain active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.Toss any sunscreen or anti-acne treatmentsthat are past theirexpiration dates.
In general, any products that contain acids should not be kept beyond their expiration dates. So, even if you're not on board with labeling all of your products, it would be smart to mark your acids, specifically.
Any item that'spackaged as a single-use product—usually called an ampoule—should be tossed immediately after the first use, even if there are leftovers.They're packaged in such a way that their ingredients remain the most potent, so as soon as that packaging is opened, the formula is losing its efficacy.
Also, use your judgment. "If the product has been open for a while, starts to change color or texture, separates, develops an odor, or moldy I recommend tossing the product," Dr. Chopra says, and this even goes for products that aren't past their expiration date. You don't know the conditions of where the product was kept or how long it was stored before it reached you, so any change in the formula should be an immediate red flag.
The Downsides of Keeping a Product Past its Expiration
As Stenzel explains, holding on to a product past its expiration date can wreak havoc on your skin. "If you don’t finish your product within one year, several things can happen," says Stenzel. "First, invisible bacteria can thrive in old products, especially in a humid environment like your bathroom. If applied to the skin, this bacteria can cause irritation, rashes, or breakouts."
Stenzel adds that every time you stick your finger in a jar of skin care, you’re contaminating it. "I recommend that you always make sure your hands are clean when applying skin care, to help lessen the risk of contamination. It’s just good hygiene."
In addition to the health concerns, Stenzel notes that a product simply won’t be as effective over time—yet another reason to ditch it. "The active ingredients won't be as active. So throw it out. And really, if your exfoliating mask or vitamin C serum is still hanging around in your bathroom after a year, that means you probably didn’t love it, right?"
This is especially important to note with products like sunscreen. "Sunscreen is the most important product in your skincare routine, protecting you from harmful ultraviolet radiation that causes skin cancer and premature aging. Thus, you want to ensure that your sun protection is functioning optimally," Dr. Chopra says.
How to Store Products so They Last Longer
An unopened product that's still sealed may have a shelf life of at least three to five years. However, this timeframe will likely be shortened if the item is storedin a sunny,hot, or humid environment. Keep your skin care in a cool, dry place—ideally not in the bathroom.
Byrdie Tip
Make sure water does not get into thecontainer,asmold may develop over time. Also, it's best to buy products that are in sealed containers like pumps instead of jars, as they tend to have a longer shelf life.
Wash your hands before applying any skin care to your face or body so that you don't get dirt or bacteria into the product.You can use a clean spatula ora baby spoon to keep the container free of contaminants.
