What signs should I look for to determine if my skincare products have expired?Updated a year ago
If your product is already open (or you’re ready to open it), here are the physical signs that can let you know if it’s gone bad.
- Smell: While some products do have a reputation for smelling bad (looking at you, vitamin C with ferulic acid), most skincare items should have a neutral smell or a specific fragrance. Give your product a sniff, and take any bad odors as a potential sign of expiry. “Plasticy” scents, in particular, are often a sign that oils have gone rancid.
- Separation or texture changes: Skincare products should usually have a homogenous texture. If you notice any dry, “gummy” layers or separated layers of oil or liquid, that’s a potential sign that your product’s emulsifiers are starting to fail. If you’re not sure, look up videos of the product to get an idea of the ideal texture.
- Irritation: With time, certain ingredients start to degrade which can release irritating compounds into skincare. If you’ve been using a product for months and it suddenly starts to irritate your skin, that can be a sign that it has gone bad.
- Color changes: While there can be variation in the colors of certain cosmetic ingredients, a product changing its color once it has been opened is often a sign of oxidation.