What factors impact cosmetic expiration dates?Updated a year ago
How you take care of your skincare can also impact its longevity. If you live in a hot, humid environment, your open items might expire sooner than if you live somewhere cold and dry. Here are the key factors to consider:
- Packaging: How much air does the skincare container let in? A product kept in a jar will likely expire sooner than a UV-proof bottle that lets in no air.
- Humidity: Products will expire faster in a humid environment, whether you live in the tropics or store your products on the counter of a poorly ventilated bathroom.
- Heat: Products will also expire faster in hot environments. The ideal temperature for storage is between 60 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature in your home regularly goes above that, consider keeping your products in the fridge. If you’ve forgotten a product in a hot car for an entire day, it might be time to throw it out.
- Sun exposure: Skincare should always be stored away from sunlight, especially if the containers are not UV-protected. It’s also worth considering what the products were exposed to before they got to you. Skincare can actually start to degrade on sunny store shelves.
- Active ingredients: Some active ingredients (especially vitamin C and retinol) are particularly sensitive and may lose their efficacy within just months of opening. Losing their efficacy will not harm your skin, but it does mean your product will lose some of its benefits.
- Clean use: How you use your products can also impact their expiry. For example, touching your face with a dropper can introduce bacteria into your serum, as can using unwashed hands or a dirty spatula to scoop up your moisturizer.
By keeping your products in a cool, dry space, you can ensure a longer shelf life. On the other hand, if you forget to close a container and leave it sitting open overnight in a humid bathroom, it might expire sooner than the PAO period.