How to: Spring Clean Your Beauty Cabinet

Did you know that expiry dates on beauty and haircare products are not mandatory in Australia? In a relatively unregulated beauty market like Australia where expiry dates are not mandatory, it’s difficult to distinguish when a product should be given the toss. The fact of the matter is that they do expire and continued use could cause a whole host of problems, from bacterial infections and breakouts to redness and rashes.

Fortunately, most brands are great at letting you know exactly when a product expires, thanks to a tiny little symbol with a number on it, that you may not know even existed. This is referred to as the ‘period after opening’ symbol, and it indicates how many months you can safely use a product after opening it.

If all else fails however, we have rounded up the expiration dates you need to know, as revealed by skincare and makeup experts to POPSUGAR Australia.

• Face/Body Wash: 6-12 Months
• Moisturiser: 6-12 Months
• Eye Cream: 6 Months
• Serum: 6 Months
• Facial wipes: 2 to 3 years
• Foundation: 2-3 Years
• Lip Gloss/Lipstick: 3 Years
• Blush/Bronzer: 2 Years
• Mascara: 1 Year
• Eyeliner: 10-12 Months
• Shampoo/Conditioner: 2-3 Years
• Sunscreen: 1-2 Years

“Shampoo and conditioner formulas tend to remain very stable in an unopened container, which means they can typically last two to three years. Once opened, they are exposed to contaminants that will start the bacteria growth process. (FDA testing has been done to determine the acceptable amount of bacteria before it is deemed unsafe or contaminated and have placed a mandatory regulation to include a universal open jar symbol on any container sold for retail, so be sure to look for it on your products.)” – Lisa Silliker (director of management at Pai-Shau). You can rest assured, our Grow Haircare products remain stable for 12-months once opened.

Find out more on BeautyDirectory full article here.