Once you've found your favourite skincare products, it can be tempting to hold on to them for as long as possible, long after their expiration date if they've not been used up. Using expired products can do more harm than good, from potentially losing their effectiveness to causing irritation and breakouts. Let's take a closer look at skincare expiration dates and how to follow them properly.
Why do skincare products expire?
The active ingredients contained in your products will eventually break down over time, reducing their effectiveness. Exposure to oxygen, light and a change in temperature can affect the shelf life of a product. External contamination from fingers can also be a factor too.
How to Check Expiration Dates
Most skincare products feature symbols or labels, such as:
1. PAO (Period After Opening) Symbol
This is the small jar icon with a number followed by 'M' (e.g., 12M), indicating how many months the product is safe to use after opening. If the container has no symbol at all, usually a good rule of thumb to follow is one year, unless it is written somewhere on the packaging.
2. Expiration Date
Some products, particularly those with active ingredients like SPF have a set expiration date printed on the packaging and it is required for skincare products that will expire after 30 months, whether they have been opened or not. Some product packaging will have an hourglass symbol on it to indicate expiry date. Pay attention to these!
3. Batch Codes
If there's no visible expiration date, you can check the batch code. For ishga products, you will find the batch code label on the bottom of the product. The code is unique to a particular product batch and you can find out more information by contacting the manufacturer.
How will I know if a skincare product has expired?
You will probably be able to tell by looking at the product, but if it's too difficult to tell then keep an eye out for these signs:
- The product has separated
- Irritation or breakouts after use
- Change in smell
- Consistency and texture have changed
- Discolouration
Tips to prolong your skincare shelf life
Store properly:Keep products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Use clean hands: Always wash your hands before dipping into jars.
Close lids tightly: This prevents air and bacteria from getting in.
Purchase smaller sizes: If it's a product that you don't use very often, try and purchase it in a smaller size if you can. This will reduce waste and less chance of it expiring before you get round to using all of it.
Preservative Eco in ishga products
We use Preservative Eco in our products. It is a natural preservative that is palm-free and can be used in natural and organic products. It helps to keep the ingredients safe, the texture consistent and also helps prevent bacteria from growing. The preservative also contains no parabens, no phenoxyethanol, no isothiazolones, and no formaldehyde, meaning no synthetic chemicals. It has been approved by the Soil Association and also works in conjunction with our main ingredient seaweed, which contains a natural preservative.
Regularly check your collection and dispose of anything that’s past its prime. Your skin will thank you for it!
