Can Skincare Expire? Yes–Here’s How to Tell

While skincare products expiring might not feel as dangerous as food going bad, it’s very important for your skin’s health to watch for signs of spoilage. Learn how to protect your skin and keep your products fresh for as long as possible!

Do All Skincare Products Expire?

Most people aren’t aware that their skincare products can expire. While daily use products like cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens are often used up before they have a chance to ‘go bad’, specialty products are more likely to last long enough for possible expiration. As well, certain products have active ingredients and have increased susceptibility to spoilage. 

However, it's important to remember that even your everyday products can still expire, and watching for those signs is especially important with products like sunscreen, which can lose its SPF and ability to protect you from the sun. So when you find that old bottle of moisturizer stuffed in the back of your bathroom closet, take a second to make sure that it's safe to use.

Why Skincare Products Expire

The ingredients in skincare products, like Vitamin C, retinols, and Hyaluronic Acid, can break down over time and spoil just like foods. Additionally, touching the product directly, or touching the skincare dispenser, can introduce bacteria that can eventually multiply to a point that causes the product to become unsafe. Using expired skincare products can lead to irritation and increase your risk of acne, defeating the purpose of using them in the first place. 

To meet FDA standards, personal care products like skincare don’t always require an expiration date. Unfortunately this makes it a lot harder to know if your cleanser has expired, but look for a PAO(Period After Opening) symbol, which will look like a small opened jar. This symbol will have a time period such as ‘6M’ or ‘12M’ and should be used within the timeframe indicated.

How To Tell If Your Skincare Is Expired

If your skincare products don’t have a PAO symbol, or you can’t remember how long it’s been since you opened it, here are some ways to tell if your moisturizer, cleanser, or serums are safe to use. 

Physical Signs Of Spoilage

Just like with food, there are many physical signs that your skincare products have gone bad. Any strange or sour smells are a sure way to tell that they are no longer safe. If you see any weird textures, especially in creamy products like moisturizers and cleansers, it's best to toss them out. Examples of odd textures might be oily films, clumping, or separation. Be careful of fading colors as well. If you use products that came in bright colors but now seem to be less bright, this is also a sign that it’s time to retire that bottle. 

Sudden Irritation Is A Bad Sign

Even if your skincare doesn’t show any physical signs, be careful if you notice any sudden irritation or increase in acne. If you’ve been using your cleanser for a long time with no issues, sudden problems are a huge indicator that the ingredients have broken down or your bottle has become overrun with bacteria. If you notice any strange or new symptoms, toss those products immediately. 

Keep Your Skincare Fresh

We all know skincare products are not cheap, and ideally we want them to last as soon as possible. Luckily, there are ways to keep your products fresh for as long as possible! Try to keep your bottles in a cool, dry place, and keep them away from direct sunlight. It’s also a good practice to use a small spatula that you can wash after each use when using skincare without a pump. Transferring bacteria from your hands and face directly to your skincare products speeds up the timer for expiration. It might not seem like the best idea to spend money on a tool when you could just use your hands, but it can save you much more in the long run; both for your wallet and for your skin’s health!

When In Doubt, Toss It Out 

Now you know how to best protect your skin from expired products, and how to keep them from expiring too fast. Remember that using spoiled skincare products is not just an aesthetic risk, it can cause damage to your skin and reverse the benefits you’ve gotten from using them. If you’re not sure, it's best to stay on the safe side, and trust us, your skin will thank you!