Shelf life

Shelf life of cosmetics
Many of us wonder how long we can keep our cosmetics after their initial use. The truth is, products are often stashed away in our medicine cabinets for months at a time. That’s why it’s so important to be attentive to the shelf life of products—information which is sometimes provided on the packaging. 6M, 12M or 24M—for example—indicate the number of months the product can be preserved once it is opened. If no shelf life is indicated, you can write it in yourself to ensure that you avoid keeping a product past its expiration.

You should also consider the area in which you keep your cosmetics. Storing them in the bathroom is not the ideal solution since humidity can create bacteria and mould.

The following table provides an overview of the average shelf life for many common cosmetic products:

Changes in texture or strange odours are obviously signs that a cosmetics product needs to be thrown out. Foul-smelling mascara is most certainly expired and can even cause a severe eye infection if used. Foundation that has changed texture and become oily or lumpy could be contaminated and might cause an allergic skin reaction or an acne breakout.

So, to ensure you always have healthy skin, we recommend that you respect the expiration date and shelf life of your products. If you are unsure which products you should throw away, feel free to stop by your PROXIM branch and ask your beauty advisor for advice.