When Things go bad....

Do you know when to throw out a product?

Since I am idling at home, I was thinking of honing my falsies application skills and the above was what I saw when I sqeezed out the eyelash glue from the tube. What was supposed to be a whitish liquid is now yellowish and runny. No doubt about it, time to toss out this tube of eyelash glue.

Even for most vicious and iron-fisted purgers out there, there is definitely still a dirty little secret lying at the bottom of our cosmetics / skincare drawers. Eyeshadow from mom's younger years? Foundation that have separated? Your favorite lipgloss color that they discontinued 5 years ago?

 

Chances are, some of them have already gone bad, really bad. There is no right or wrong when it comes to this. How long a product is dependent on the below:

1. 
   
   Content of the product. Oil based products tend to last longer. So if that foundation of yours is water based, chances are you'll be tossing that out faster than your oil-based ones. With the advent of skincare and cosmetic technology, companies are able to come up with better products by using better ingredients. And no, that does not mean these products would last longer. It just means that these products are better for your skin, not your wallet because very often than not, products with good ingredients are the ones to spoil the earliest.
   
   This is because companies are able to stabilise and extract ingredients that were technological impossible ten years ago. But these ingredients might not last that long compared to traditional ingredients.
   
   Furthermore, with the increased awareness for natural and paraben-free products, products today are not meant for shelf life maximization but rather, results optimization. The product may still look and smell alright, but the active ingredient / potency of the product may degrade over time due to exposure to the air and bacteria.
2. 
   
   Container and Packaging
   Products housed in tubes and bottles usually last longer as compared to jars as there is less bacteria contact. Jars are usually the ones that are the hotbed for bacteria and germs since most of us would dip our fingers into it rather than use a clean spatula.
   
   So, the next time you grab that favourite moisturizer of yours, remember to use a spatula or Q-tip. Always use quality cotton. Inferior cotton are usually bleached with harsh chemicals that would probably do more harm than good.
3. 
   
   Storage, Climate and Environment
   The gurus say it all. Always store your products in a cool and dry place, away from the sunlight. And that includes all opened and unopened products. As to why, I think we all know well enough so for me not to further elaborate.
   
   Typically, for a tropical climate such as Singapore, our products tend to go bad faster compared to someone using the same product in a temperate region. This is due to the extra sun and humidity that we get over here. Room temperatures are higher and with the higher water content in the air, our products are more vulnerable to bacteria growth. So, if you have the additional buget, you can invest in either air-conditioning or better still, a cosmetic fridge for storing your little bottles, to prolong their shelf-life.
   
   And always always cap your products to reduce anymore dust from settling into your products.

Little Tips:

• 
  
  For major skincare and cosmetics line, there is usually an indication of how long the product can last after opening. Look around the container and you would sometimes find what looks like a picture of a opended tub with numbers on it. The number is usually 6, 12, 24 or 36. What this means is that you can safely use this opened product for the number of months it says. So always write down the date of opening on your product with a marker on the container. But do remember that this number is just a guide and there are many other factors.
• 
  
  Opened that jar of La Mer creame and cant bear to use it? Thinking of using it sparingly or for that special occassion? Chances are, it will spoil even faster. The theory is the same as not airing your wardrobe periodically. Moisture and bacteria gets trapped in and like all living organisms do, starts to grow. So, use up that jar asap once it is opened to get your pennies really worthed and maximise the ROI.
• 
  
  Always use your senses. See that the product has separated, have a funny color or texture, or smells rancid? Do not doubt your senses, these products have already gone bad, no matter that the product information says.
• 
  
  Although most products stay alright as long as it has not been opened before, but I guess no-one would want to use a product that have been sitting on a cosmetics counter for 5 years. Companies nowadays have labels indicating either the date of manufacturing or expiry date. Do not buy anything that is obviously passed the expiry date or has a manufacturing date of more than 5 years ago. Most major departmental stores would not have this problem due to high product turnover rate.
• 
  
  For natural and organic products, due to their zero / low preservatives content, they tend to go bad the fastest. Always check with the company on their product lifes when you are purchasing, to reduce any chances.
• 
  
  Always buy from verified and reliable sources. That MAC lipstick may feel like a great bargain but for all we know, it could be a counterfeit and worst, it might have been sitting in the warehouse for years. And yes, counterfeiting is a lucrative business that is not restricted to the world of designer bags.
• 
  
  There is really no right or wrong on this. You'll probably not have adverse effects on a moisturizer that still looks and smells good, despite having been opened for 3 years, and neither would you go blind from using eyeliner that is past the 5 years mark. Even if you do use any rancid products despite what your senses tell you, the worst you can get is a serious case of skin allergy / reaction.
• 
  
  General guide to product shelf life after being opened.
  
  Liquid foundation: 6 months to 1 year
  
  
  Mascara: 3 to 4 months
  
  Lip gloss and lipstick: 1 to 2 years
  
  Eye/lip pencils: at least 1 year and up to 3
  
  Facial cleansers and moisturizers: 6 months to 2 years
  
  Anti-aging and acne treatments: 3 months to 2 years
  
  Body lotion: 2 to 3 years
  
  Hair styling products: 3+ years