WHEN TO TOSS YOUR BEAUTY PRODUCTS

I touched on this topic a few years ago because it's an important thing to discuss. Many people don't know that there is an icon on the back of most beauty products that looks like the photo above. This icon represents the expiration date or the PAO (period after opening) date, which indicates when to toss your beauty products.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, beauty products have expiration dates, just like food. There are active ingredients that will become less potent or will weaken over time, not to mention the yeast or bacteria that could be growing in the product. According to Emilie Heathe, this happens because the product’s preservative system, meaning its ingredients with preserving qualities that all work together, is only effective for this given period of time.

Once the preservative system is weakened to the point that it can’t ward against contaminants, the formula is susceptible to these issues.

Packaging can also be a factor to consider. If you’re dipping your fingers into a product (like a jar of moisturizer), this can welcome additional bacteria or fungi. Components that touch your face and then go back into a product, such as mascara wands or doe foot applicators, can also prove a bacteria breeding ground.

If products are unopened, they are considered safe for a while, but active ingredients can also weaken over time and irritate the skin or cause breakouts. Overall PAO expiration dates will depend on the type of product, packaging, and how it is stored. According to Dr. Hadley King, “When all else fails, use the sniff test— if it smells funky, throw it out!”

SO NOW WHAT?

If you have new, unused products that you recently purchased, mark the date of purchase on the container with a Sharpie. Check the back of the container for the PAO, then write that date on the container as a reminder of when you should toss it.

If you have products that you’re currently using and know the date of purchase, then you can use the steps above to write the date on the container. If you don’t remember when you purchased the product and it’s been a while, you may consider tossing them and starting fresh.

Sources: Emilie Heathe