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We all know that beauty products each have their own expiration dates, but many of us are often guilty of letting them slide and allowing expired products to sit in our drawers longer than they should. This bad habit has gotten all the more complicated with the rise in popularity of natural beauty items, as few people have a clear understanding of how long you can safely keep using those better-for-you products. As a general rule, the lack of chemical preservatives in natural beauty products gives them a shorter shelf life, and the specific expiration time of particular products will vary according to the manufacturer. That being said, here’s a general guideline of how long your natural beauty products will last.
Eye Makeup
Eye makeup is something that you want to make sure you’re replacing regularly, particularly when it comes to mascaras and eyeliners that come in contact with the waterline of your eye and can therefore easily transmit bacteria and cause infections or irritation. Three to six months is the standard life-span of natural eye makeup and it’s always best to be extra safe where your eyes are concerned.
Moisturizers and Lotions
Face moisturizers and body lotions are typically good to go for six months after opening. Keep an eye out in case your products have changed color, consistency, or smell. That being said, plenty of products expire without showing any visible signs so stick to the six months rule either way.
Shampoos and Conditioners
Shampoos and conditioners have one of the longest shelf lives among natural beauty products and can last for a year or two. To keep them going strong, make sure to seal them tightly to avoid water getting into the bottles and to prevent mildew from forming. If you start to notice a sudden difference in your hair texture, it’s probably time to kiss those old bottles goodbye.
Soaps
Like shampoo and conditioner, soaps and shower gels can stay with you for a year or two, though some natural soap makers say to use their products up within 6 months. To keep natural or handmade bar soap in good shape, avoiding leaving it to sit in water by investing in a well-drained soap dish.
Deodorant
Many people have recently switched over to natural deodorant after concerns have started to mount around the side-effects of the aluminum in mainstream anti-perspirants. While natural deodorants might be better for your health, they lose their effectiveness a little more quickly. It will be time to trade these out after six months to a year.
Lip Products
Natural lip balms and lipsticks stay fresh for about a year, but if you use the same product daily you might want to swap it out at the six-month mark. If you apply lip balm with your fingers, it’s important to remember to always use clean hands in order to extend the life of your product and prevent bacteria from spreading.
Tips & Tricks
General good practice when it comes to keeping your natural beauty products in good condition is to store them in a cool, dark, and dry place. Keeping them away from excess water, moisture, and humidity is particularly important. And like with any regular beauty products, keep them clean and sanitary by washing your makeup brushes regularly and not sharing products like mascara, eye liner, or lipstick with others.
While this guide provides a general overview, you’ll also want to check the expiration dates on your individual products, as these things can vary from brand to brand. Look for a picture of a jar on your products. That jar will have a number and letter combination telling you the shelf life of a product. If the jar has a closed lid, that image is telling you the life of the product since the date it was manufactured. If the jar has an open lid, you’re being told how long the product will last after it’s been opened. For example, a jar with an open lid marked “12M” means that the product will expire 12 months after it has been opened. If you’re having trouble remembering when to trade out your products, think about adding a little date sticker to the lids when you open them. That way you’ll have a visual cue about when to throw them out.
While it can be hard to remember to clear out your beauty-stash regularly, hopefully this post will serve as a helpful guide and regular reminder. Even after you make the switch to natural beauty products, you still have to do everything you can to make sure they’re working as best they can for you.
