In short, yes: Moisturizer and lotion do expire. Still, in most cases, that can take two to three years. If you have a stash of lotion from holiday and gifting occasions in the past, do a smell and touch check before you apply it.
Can I use expired lotion? Using lotion past its expiration date isn't likely to cause any harm. The only exception to the rule is jarred lotion, which may harbor bacteria over time. Even if expired lotion won't hurt you, it won't necessarily help you, either.
On the back of your product, look for an open jar image. The image may contain 12M, 18M, 24M, etc. This tells you how many months the product is usable from the day it's opened. Other signs of expired products also include a change in color, consistency or odor.
Ingredients do break down over time and chemicals could become altered, so those with particularly sensitive skin might develop a rash simply due to the change in chemical composition. You may also notice an off smell in skincare products that are past their expiration date — in that case, you should stop using them.
Unfortunately the manufactured date is not always written down. If you have an unopened (sealed) skin care product with an expired date on it and you wonder if you can still use it, the answer is that it depends on the product itself. Usually these products are additionally 1 to 3 years valid.
Using old products can lead to breakouts or skin irritation. Most makeup companies are not required to print expiration dates on their packages.
Specific products can vary, but in general, unopened skin care can last from one to three years. After opened, you should use a product as directed promptly, within one year. Always throw away a product if it seems discolored, develops a strange odor, or the consistency changes (if it becomes lumpy, runny, etc).
A moisturiser in a pump tube will remain fresher for longer than one in a jar, but in general, most skincare products like moisturisers, eye creams, face masks and serums will last between six months and a year.
Moisturizers: After six months to one year
If you're working with a water-based moisturizer, it's best to say goodbye after just six months (they're more likely to spoil faster because of the high concentration of H2O, which again is a bacteria-happy playground).
“When it comes to body moisturizer, throw away unfinished containers that have been open for more than two years,” Dr. Cook-Bolden says.
"Some products may actually last longer and will still be effective for longer than that," he adds. But even if they're still effective and safe, expired skin-care products could give you other reasons to toss them. "They may develop an off color, may not smell as nice, and may not be as pleasant to use."
One of the surefire ways to tell if a product is expired is by smelling it. Before you apply the product, bring it up to your nose, and smell it. If the product has a peculiar odor or smells slightly off, it may have expired. The texture has changed.
Most opened products lose their effectiveness after one year and some even sooner, according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. Expired products may not only lack potency, but could also cause an adverse skin reaction.
For most skin and body care products, there's an easy way to find out how long the shelf life is. Simply look on the container for a tiny image of an opened jar with a number on it: six, 12, 24, or 36. This refers to the number of months you can use a product after you've opened it.
Generally, if properly stored in a cool, dry place, most unopened and completely sealed makeup should last for 2 to 3 years. With that said, creamier products that contain oils or butters, like cream concealers or liquid blushes, could turn earlier because oil can go rancid.
Using shampoo that's past it's use by date can result in your hair looking dull and not as clean as you'd expect. At the more extreme end, Rivera explained, an expired product may cause itching or irritation to your scalp due to the shampoo's chemical change.
Many perfumes don't have a set expiry date and can last anywhere between 1-10 years. However, three to five years is often the average shelf life of a fragrance and most of Shay & Blue's fragrances will still perform for the length of time. According to experts, perfumes with heavier base notes will last the longest.
Technically, deodorant doesn't have an expiration date. It's likely antiperspirants will work for years as well. But to be on the safe side, you should probably replace the stick every three years, if you still have it.
Eau de Toilette (or Toilet Water) derives its name from the French word “Toilette” which means “a small piece of cloth” but has a specific reference to shaving and grooming. Thus, the aromatic water used after shaving or grooming became commonly called Eau de Toilette.
Yes, perfume and cologne do go bad. However, how long they last depends on the scent's chemical composition. Many perfumes, especially from well-respected brand names like Chanel or Marc Jacobs, don't have a hard-and-fast expiration date.
Usually, mouthwash is good for a maximum of 2 to 3 years from the manufacture date. Most mouthwash contains alcohol or another astringent, which starts to dissolve after 2 or 3 years and essentially waters down the liquid. This may encourage bacteria growth, which makes expired mouthwash potentially unsafe to use.
You can safely use the product, two-years after that official date, but chances are, if you are brushing your teeth twice a day, you will never have to worry about expired toothpaste. The reason why toothpaste has an expiration date is that the fluoride in it becomes less effective and could damage the enamel.
Most manufactured soap has a two to three-year expiration date, but it may last longer than that. As long as the soap creates a lather, it's working. If, however, your soap doesn't seem to be creating a lather, it's probably not killing germs and cleaning effectively.
You may not want to part with your favorite tube of mascara, but we hate to inform you that it has the earliest expiration date when it comes to makeup. Mascara lasts around three to six months, and shouldn't be kept around for longer.
The wrong color may spoil your mood, but the risk of a lipstick or lip-gloss formula spoiling (or growing bacteria) is low since they don't contain water, says Hammer. But since they're repeatedly exposed to the mouth area, he suggests replacing lip products after a year — or if you've recently been sick.