When Should I Throw Out a Product?
Problem: I’ve heard a lot of different information regarding when I should throw away a cosmetic. Is there a time limit when products should be thrown away?
Solution: There isn’t an easy answer to this question because there are no regulations or agreed-upon guidelines on the expiration times for skin-care or makeup products, and the FDA has no rules on the issue whatsoever. Cosmetics companies generally test their products for stability, but some do one-year assays while others do three-year assays. Clouding the stability testing issue even more is that the cosmetics companies typically look only at temperature variables (freezing or overheating, for instance). The testing doesn’t take into account how consumers use the products. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored—for example, exposed to sunlight, left open, or become contaminated (any product packaged in a jar has almost a 100% risk of being contaminated)—may deteriorate substantially before a year is up. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the suggested “use by” dates. An additional stability issue, which is not related to stability testing, is that there is no way to tell how long a product has been sitting on a shelf before you buy it.
So what should you do? In general, it’s best to toss out cosmetics that you place near the eye (mascara, for example) after four to six months, and to dispose of face products (moisturizers, foundations) after one to two years. The toss time for eye-area cosmetics is more limited than for other products because of repeated microbial exposure during use by the consumer, which poses the risk of eye infections. Some industry experts even recommend replacing mascara after only three months from the date of purchase. Another thing: If mascara becomes dry, discard it. Don’t add water or, even worse, saliva to moisten it, because that will introduce bacteria into the product. And if you have an eye infection, consult a physician immediately, stop using all eye-area cosmetics, and discard those you were using when the infection occurred.
Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf-life are certain “all-natural” products that contain plant-derived substances conducive to microbial growth. It’s also important, for both consumers and manufacturers, to consider the increased risk of contamination in some “natural” products that contain nontraditional preservatives or no preservatives at all.
Sharing makeup also increases the risk of contamination, and the testers commonly found at department-store cosmetics counters are even more likely to become contaminated than the same products in your home. If you must test a cosmetic before purchasing it, apply it with a new, unused applicator, such as a fresh cotton swab. But remember, these are merely
suggestions; they are not based on any established research or guidelines (Source: FDA Office of Cosmetics Facts Sheet, March 9, 2000, “Shelf Life-Expiration Date”).