Did you know that skincare products come with an expiry date from when they’ve been opened?
If you’re a skincare fan you probably have more products than you actually need and have bottles sitting on your bathroom shelf that has been open for longer than you think.
Here is our guide from our founder Noele Hammett skincare expert practitioner on how to store and find an expiration date on all your skincare products.
Can skincare products can become inactive with air and UV exposure? Absolutely!
You have found your perfect skincare routine that works on your skin and is it’s long-lasting but did you know that some active ingredients can become inactive with air and UV exposure?
Using expired skincare or beauty products can become ineffective and in some cases, they can do more harm than good. Especially when it comes to SPF cream where the protection will degrade and the sunscreen loses its protective properties, leaving your skin vulnerable to sun damage.
Are your skincare products still in date?
Active ingredient products and SPF ideally should be used within 6 months of opening, other products are generally effective for up to 12 months.
How long have your products been open?
Active ingredients are those ingredients contained within skincare products that actually work to address the skin concern the product is meant to target. That’s not to say that the other ingredients are useless; they’re often key to helping the active ingredient perform its role!
They include Alpha hydroxy acids, Beta hydroxy acids, Peptides, Retinol, Retinoids and Vitamin C.
Most beauty products have a shelf life of anywhere from 24 to 34 months and 6-12 months after the opening date.
The period after opening has an impact on the product’s ingredients due to oxidation and they have to be used within a certain period. Every single product on the market comes with an indicator drawing of the shelf life here is an example of our Multitude Multi Acid Treatment Peel
Long story short
Keep track of when and how are you using all of your products and be mindful that expiration dates are not definitive when it comes to environmental factors that can affect products. Washing your hands before any product application is essential to reduce cross-contamination and make your product free from bacteria.
How to store skincare products correctly?
Most of your makeup and skincare will be fine at room temperature—if you can keep them out of direct sunlight. But it’s best to store the majority of your products inside cabinets and drawers to keep them safe and avoid steam.
This leads us to how to apply products correctly and how to avoid products contamination
Is Jar packing bad?
Jar packing is the highway to skin infections.
Products in the jar packing can become contaminated with bacteria especially when we use unwashed fingers to scoop out our luxurious cream straight out of the jar. Bacteria then can multiply and destabilize the formula. As we all carry bacteria on our skin dipping your fingers in and out every day increases the risk of bacteria growth.
Most infections are caused by a variety of bacteria but E-coli is definitely the most dangerous as it causes severe infections to soft tissue and it only can get worst if you suffer from acne or have open wounds. This can become a highway to a bigger health problem.
Of course, this level of contamination is unlikely if it’s just you using your products but the chances increase if you store your open skincare jars in the toilet where E-coli bacteria multiply on daily basis.
How to keep bacteria out of your skincare products?
Ideally, skincare products in jar packaging should be applied with an applicator and with washed hands evenly spread on your skin or even better choose skincare that comes in bottles and tubes with caps or pumps.
Getting the essentials right is the basis for a safe skincare routine
FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS
Limiting how many products we store on our shelves gives us more control to keep track of the expiration dates. We often get carried away purchasing products recommended online without knowing if they are truly suitable for our skin. I always recommend a professional skincare consultation if you are unsure or need professional guidance. Before you know it you have a cupboard full of half-used products many even out of date. Product hopping will never give you true results. For every product you try allow 28 days to see the real results, your skin needs to adapt to active ingredients, and 12 weeks to see the true benefit of the product.
Less is more when it comes to skincare. A beginner's guide to simple skincare would consist of a sulphate-free cleanser, gentle skin exfoliant, moisturiser cream or oil and not forgetting the most important of all your SPF!
Take a look at our One Skin Essentials.
A cleanser
Make sure that the cleanser you choose is adapted to your skin type so it doesn’t strip your skin or leave it oily. One Skin's sulphate-free pH-balanced cleansing wash formula respects dermal barriers while effectively removing sebum, pollution and all traces of makeup. It leaves your skin feeling ultra-hydrated and calm after each use.
An exfoliator
Exfoliation is essential for clear and glowing skin. Choose one that is gentle but effective. We have two to offer you, Microdermabrasion Cream which is perfect for textural issues improving the overall feel and clarity of the skin. However, our best-selling Multitude Peel is a weekly at-home flash facial which gives a multitude of skin improvements including brightening, clearing, texturising and rejuvenating!
A moisturiser
Moisture is your skin's saviour! It’s so important to choose a good quality moisturiser that will protect and hydrate your skin and suits your lifestyle. Here's the science - the outermost layer of your skin depends on a balanced quantity of lipids to hold the moisture within and to keep your skin healthy. DNA, environmental exposure or damage means the skin loses its natural lipid count. Wonder Cream is a bathroom shelf staple and the hero product of the One Skin brand. There is no better formulation to support overall skin health for everyone. Our award-winning superstar cream contains perfect concentrations of powerful ingredients including Copper peptide, Vitamin A, E, and Niacinamide along with Hyaluronic Acid and a host of nourishing oils.
ALWAYS USE AN SPF
This is absolutely essential to every skincare routine. You need to protect your skin from the sun as it is a major cause of premature ageing and pigmentation problems, not to mention the risk of more serious skin issues. One Skin Daily Defence Peptide Cream SPF30 provides broad-spectrum UV protection, suitable for all skin types!
FINALLY...
Other things you may want to consider with your skin care shelf are washing your make-up/mask brushes and getting a skincare treatment booked. It's always worthwhile to seek out professional advice for niggling skin concerns before they start affecting your confidence and possibly self-esteem. If you wish to book an in-depth skin consultation please fill in our contact form and we will be in touch with you.
Love,
