On cosmetic packaging and make-up products, usually on the back, a small logo appears, an open jar with a number imprinted on it followed by the letter “M”. Have you ever wondered what it means
And a sort of “best before”, the expiration date that indicates that the product is to be used within a certain number of months from the opening date, those indicated in number.
Of course, if you’ve used a super discounted hand cream only once and then forgot it in the drawer covered with a mountain of other products, you might not mind having it ending up in the bin, but if you’re in doubt and the fate of that very expensive serum that you have been sipping for months the speech is different.
It will be true that after a period that can be 6, 9 or 12 months the products lose their effectiveness It will be
true that they can even become harmful
It will not be simply a clever marketing policy aimed at alarming us to push us to always buy new ones
To answer these questions, let’s clarify a bit.
Not all products are the same, a face cream doesn’t last as long as a soap, and a mascara doesn’t last as long as an eyeshadow. The presence of water is a first characteristic to be examined. If it appears first in the list of ingredients it means that its duration will be rather short because this ingredient does not limit the proliferation of bacteria.
Another element to consider is the packaging. If a face cream is contained in a dispenser that isolates it from contact with the air and with the skin of your hands, it will certainly last longer than one contained in a jar, in contact with the air and sensitive to foreign bodies brought by the touch. of the fingers. Respectively, the time of use is generally one year versus 6-9 months of the cream in the jar.
Today organic and preservative-free creams and cosmetics are very popular: consider that the naturalness of the ingredients and the absence of chemical preservatives limits the time of their duration., and this also applies to soaps, shampoos, masks and scrubs, which often contain fruit extracts or other perishable substances. And speaking of ingredients: products that aim to fight acne typically contain substances such as salicylic acid, which when exposed to air tend to lose their effectiveness rather quickly, usually within 6 months. Creams that contain retinol – vitamin A – should be used within a year if enclosed in opaque dispensers, 9 months if in a jar.
It is also important to be careful with regard to make-up: if the foundation has been open for over a year, it is better to throw it away because over time the substances that compose it begin to disintegrate and oxidize., compromising the result and risking irritating the skin. Powder cosmetics such as bronzers, blushes and eye shadows last longer because they are not watery and therefore you can enjoy them for up to three years. Long lasting also for eye and lip pencils because by constantly tempering them, the part already used is eliminated, and therefore potentially contaminated by germs and bacteria.
Bad news on the front of lipsticks and lip glosses: rich in water and emollient substances, we use them on the lips, so they quickly collect impurities and therefore must be replaced very often and last less than 6 months. The same goes for liquid mascara and eye liners.
You are very attached to your nail polish collection
They typically last up to 2 years, then the components begin to separate and annoying lumps appear.
