Skincare Expiration Dates: What Beauty Hoarders Should Know

If you’re a beauty lover, you’re probably guilty of buying and stashing away more skin care and makeup than you need. No one is immune to double-day sales or the urge to justify every purchase with, “Deserve ko ‘to!” One unfortunate consequence of this habit is forgetting all about expiration dates. Yes, they do exist! And failing to check them can mean trouble for your skin.

Let’s clear one thing up: Skincare products absolutely have an expiration date. You might think that your expensive moisturizer or that serum with a fancy name is still effective after months or even years of sitting in your drawer, but they’re not. Like any other product, skincare items break down over time, and the longer you keep them, the more likely they are to lose their potency.

If the expiration date is not printed explicitly on the back or bottom of the packaging, look for the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol on your products. It’s a little jar icon with a number followed by an "M" (months), such as 6M, 12M, 18M, or 24M. This tells you how long the product is safe to use after opening. If it’s past its PAO, you’re probably better off saying goodbye. This goes for other products like shampoo, conditioner, lotions, and makeup, too.

Other signs that your product has expired include:

• Smell: If it smells off, sour, or just not like it did when you first opened it, it’s time to toss it. Be careful when sniffing your potentially expired stash, though, since they can grow mold that you definitely do not want to inhale. 
• Texture: Skin care should have a smooth consistency. If your moisturizer has become lumpy, separated, or runny, that’s a sign it’s past its prime.
• Color: Products with active ingredients like vitamin C will oxidize over time. Vitamin C serums usually start out clear or light yellow. They’re no longer effective once they turn dark amber or brown.
• Irritation: If your skin starts to react negatively to a product you’ve used before without issue, it might be because it’s expired. Pay attention to any unusual redness or tingling after use.

No, it’s not okay to use expired skincare products. Some feel bad about not finishing a jar of expensive cream, so they use the expired product on other parts of the body, like their elbows and feet. Do not do this – just throw the thing away.

Once a product passes its expiration date, ingredients can break down, rendering the product ineffective or even harmful. Using them can lead to rashes, clogged pores, or even infections. Expired products could also be harboring bacteria that you wouldn’t want anywhere near you, not even your feet!

If you happen to have hoarded skincare products over the course of many sales or when traveling abroad, do yourself a favor and protect your investments. Sure, they may have a finite shelf life, but doing the following can help keep them effective and clean for as long as possible.

Avoid storing your skincare products in places that get hot or humid, such as the bathroom counter. Heat can break down active ingredients and preservatives, causing them to lose their effectiveness. A cool, dry environment, like a bedroom vanity or a dark cupboard, is ideal. Unopened skincare products have a shelf life of two years if stored properly but try not to push it. Unboxing a “new” serum only to discover it has expired can be heartbreaking.

When applying your products, always make sure that your hands or tools are clean. Introducing bacteria and dirt into your skincare can cause contamination and accelerate degradation. This is particularly crucial for products in jars or tubes. Always close lids and caps tightly after use to minimize exposure to air, which can oxidize the formula.

Use a skincare spatula to scoop out your POND'S Bright Miracle Day Cream. It has niacinamide and E-Resorcinol to brighten skin and fade post-acne marks and sun spots. Meanwhile, if your favorite products come in serum droppers, try to keep the dropper from touching anything. Apply your POND'S Bright Miracle Night Serum in the evening by squeezing the product into your palms and patting it onto your skin.

Certain products can go bad faster than others. Active ingredients, like retinol, vitamin C, and AHAs, are more prone to degradation over time. If you’re using products with these ingredients, try to keep them in airtight, opaque packaging to limit exposure to air and light. Avoid hoarding them no matter how much you love them. Buy only what you can realistically use within the shelf life indicated on the packaging or PAO symbol.

Skincare is an investment, but it’s only effective if you’re using products that are still good. So, remember to check the expiration dates, pay attention to changes in smell and texture, and trust your skin to tell you when it’s time to say goodbye.