From skincare to makeup: Here are beauty products you can still use past their expiration dates
Are you someone who throws a product away as soon as you see it has expired?
Believe it or not, you don’t always have to do that because there are some that are still good to use even past the date on their labels.
Among them are pencil-based products like eyeliners and lip liners, according to chemist Mika Mendoza. “Since these can be sharpened, you can still get rid of the exposed and contaminated layers,” she explained to PhilSTAR L!fe.
Cosmetics in powder form such as blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow can also last long. “When stored properly in a cool, dry place, they are less likely to go rancid than liquid-based products as there's no water that encourages the growth of bacteria.”
Did you forget that you own a petroleum jelly? Mendoza said that you can still use it if it was stored properly since it doesn’t have active ingredients like Vitamin C or retinol, which degrade easily. "As long as it looks and smells like it usually does, it should be okay.”
The same goes for lip balms. “Using lip balms past their intended expiration date may not pose harmful risks as they are quite similar to petroleum jelly,” she said.
Dermatologist Jarische Lao-Ang noted that expired lip balms can be used “as long as they have no colorants.”
As for skincare products, Lao-Ang told L!fe that you can still use expired cleansers and moisturizers, but not on your face.
“For cleansers and moisturizers past their expiry dates, they can be used or repurposed for body care or for other areas that are not so sensitive,” she said.
“Cleansers just mostly contain surfactants and preservatives,” she explained. “For moisturizers, just make sure they don’t contain exfoliating acids or retinoids."
Unopened items are still generally okay, Mendoza added, especially if they are stored properly.
She, however, noted that it’s still best to err on the side of caution and listen to your skin. “It may still be different for each person,” she noted. “Remember that some have more senstitive skin than others.”
Both Mendoza and Lao-Ang pointed out that once a product goes past its expiry date, its formulation might no longer be effective in delivering its function and intended benefits.
“And because the quality of the products do deteriorate over time, the best thing you can do is stick with fresh products,” added Mendoza.
How do you know if it’s time to throw expired products away?
According to Mendoza, there are three things that could indicate when it’s time to get rid of a product: change in smell, texture, and color.
Items that give off a rancid or sour smell indicate that “they are spoiled and that their chemical ingredients are no longer stable."
There is no specific pattern for color change, added Mendoza, though there are certain indicators. "Sometimes it's white creams that become yellowish, or concealers that become orange. Both are due to oxidation of the ingredients, usually Vitamin C, which is very light sensitive. It's why they're always packaged in amber bottles,” she said. "Sometimes it can be the appearance of bluish or blackish spots, indicating molds. It's really subjective so it's important to be observant."
Lao-Ang noted that the presence of oily or watery discharge may be a sign that the "ingredients may have separated” as they were "not preserved properly.”
It would also help to check if there are changes in the containers of expired products. "Swelling may indicate bacterial growth,” she said. “Direct sunlight and hot weather can cause swelling, so always, always store your products in a cool, dry location."
