How much money do women spend on cosmetics? Many will answer that much more than is actually needed. And they will be right. Each girl at home accumulates tubes, jars, bottles and bottles with a variety of cosmetics, although in fact any lady uses about 10% of the total available arsenal. Everything else is just aimlessly gathering dust on the shelves or is used so rarely that it is not worth mentioning.
It's not bad that the fair sex spend a lot of money on useless things. Quite often, cosmetics are on the shelves for years, their expiration date is coming to an end. Do not use expired creams, powders, foundations or lipsticks.
How to determine the expiration date of foundation and other products? How to understand that cosmetics have deteriorated? How to properly store foundation so that it lasts longer? We will give detailed answers to these questions in the article.
Can be used or not
How muchWhat is the expiration date of foundation? Any girl knows that he can be different. The average shelf life is 12 to 36 months. Going beyond these limits does not benefit manufacturers, as stores do not want to deal with perishable products. Longer shelf life (over 36 months) means cosmetics are high in preservatives.
Cosmetic manufacturers indicate these figures after a series of tests. Initially, an experimental batch of goods is exposed to cold, heat and sunlight in order to recreate the conditions during transportation and a long stay on the shelves of the store. Strains of fungus and bacteria are then placed in cosmetics to determine if the product will be just as effective when used with far from the most sterile fingers.
After each stage, the product is evaluated: experts record the change in smell, structure, density, viscosity, color and many more characteristics. Based on the data obtained, a mathematical statistical model is built, with the help of which the deadlines for the implementation and shelf life after opening are calculated.
What to do with expired cosmetics
If foundation, powder, blush or lipstick has already expired, should I throw away cosmetics? Many girls feel sorry for parting with their favorite bottle, so they are in no hurry to send it to the bin. Most often, this does not make sense, since the remedy has long lost all its properties and is now a potential source of he alth hazard.
Although sometimes you can use cosmetics after the expiration date. For example, if the package has not been previously opened, and the contents have not come into contact with air. This means that the product remains sterile and can be used for some time, although it most likely will not meet the declared characteristics.
If the packaging was opened, then cosmetics become dangerous after the expiration date. It contains a lot of microorganisms. Using expired lip gloss or mascara can cause severe allergic reactions, skin deterioration, inflammation, infection of certain areas, and many other problems.
Expiration dates of different cosmetics
Dry cosmetics are stored the longest, in which the minimum content of water or oils. Its shelf life starts from 12 months. Usually it is about three years.
Water-based products store the least. Note that tonics, hydrogels, lotions after the expiration of the period of use turn into poison for the skin. Why? The thing is that water is a favorable environment for the growth of microorganisms.
All natural cosmetics deteriorate quickly due to the oxidation of natural components. In addition, almost all products labeled "organic" contain few preservatives, which significantly reduces the shelf life.
Cosmetics with a high oil content can also deteriorate quickly, but most of these products contain substances thatinhibiting the growth of microflora. Creams, masks, and others containing retinol and vitamin C fall into the risk zone. These substances oxidize very quickly under the influence of light and oxygen.
Means can deteriorate even before the expiration date. This usually happens when the terms of savings are violated.
Storage
All cosmetics, including foundation, must be stored under the conditions indicated on the label. As a rule, this is room temperature, the absence of heating devices and sunlight near. Some products, such as serums, should only be refrigerated and used immediately after opening.
Cosmetics for the care of the body, face and hair are stored and used from 6 months to a year, and for the eyes - from 4 to 6 months.
The recommended shelf life for foundation and concealer is 6-12 months, regardless of what the label says. After a year of use, it is better to throw the product away, otherwise skin problems may occur.
Lipstick and lip pencils can be used for 2-3 years.
Timing control
To know exactly which product is time to dispose of, you need to check your cosmetic bag at least once every 2-3 months. It is also worth having a notebook in which to put down the dates of opening the vials and tubes. If you do not want to mess with a notebook or sheets, you can make a note directly on the label of a cosmetic product. This information will help you determine how much is left before the expiration date.
Viewsfoundation creams, features of use
What is the shelf life of foundation? This largely depends on the basis and properties of the product itself. To date, cosmetologists distinguish several types of foundation creams:
- Water based liquid. With the lightest texture, to mask minor imperfections. Perishes quickly as it contains water.
- Medium density. A little thicker than a liquid foundation, but will not hide serious flaws.
- High density. These are professional tools that cannot be used every day. They actually create a mask on the face. In good lighting it is noticeable. The shelf life depends on the amount of preservatives.
- Anti-aging. They not only mask flaws, but also contain additional nourishing, moisturizing and regenerating components. They rarely spoil, as they are sold in tiny tubes, so women have time to use everything.
- Liquid cream. Classic, very comfortable. They provide a good breeding ground for bacteria.
- Mousses. Blends hard but creates a stunning matte finish.
- Stick. Very comfortable, in a tube (like lipstick).
- Foundation with additional effects (BB, CC, and DD series).
Information on the package
The expiration date of the foundation is indicated on the label, on the seam of the tube or on the bottle as a set of numbers. You need to be able to find this information and decipher it correctly. The thing is that any cosmetics has two terms when it can be used, before and after.autopsy. The shelf life of the foundation can be 5 years from the moment it leaves the assembly line until the day the product is discarded. But after opening the package, this period is much less. Usually does not exceed 6 -18 months.
Information on the label can be indicated in different ways, for example:
- Date of manufacture (sometimes batch number) and expiration date (general).
- Date of manufacture (sometimes batch number) and a symbol indicating the expiration date after opening (a schematic jar with an open lid and a designation of the period of use, for example, 6M - 6 months, 18M - 18 months).
- Expiration date, i.e. "use until XX/XX/XXXX" mark, as well as a schematic designation of the expiration date after opening.
- Batch number. In this case, you can find all the necessary information on the official website of the manufacturer.
Example
Determine the expiration date of foundation. The tube says "best before: see package." The date on the weld is 20161008. Accordingly, the product will be suitable until October 8, 2016.
There is also an "open can" symbol and a "6M" mark. This means that the cream can be used within six months after opening.
When buying
Expiration date is the most important information you need to know before buying cosmetics. If the implementation timecomes to an end, then you should not buy such a tool. It has lost most of its claimed properties, so it will soon have to be thrown away.
Expiration dates of popular foundations
Let's consider how much you can store the funds that most Russian beauties have in their purses:
- "Avon Color Trend". Will last 24 months after opening.
- Max Factor. Many girls do not know how to determine the expiration date of the Max Factor foundation. The thing is that some manufacturers seek to disguise this information as much as possible so that the ladies do not know if they are buying a product that they have just made, or a stale product. To find out the timing, you need to turn the bottle over and look at the bottom of the four-digit digital code. Next, you need to go to a specialized website for checking cosmetics, select a manufacturer (in this particular case, Max Factor). The expiration date of the foundation after opening, as well as the production date and the expiration date of the sales period will be known.
- "Ballet 2000". It can be used within 12 months after opening. Expiration date - on the seam of the tube.
- Maybelline - BB series. The shelf life of Maybelline foundation after opening is 12 months. The implementation period is specified separately.
- "Revlon 24 hours". The term of implementation of the product is 5 years from the date of production. The exact date can be found by alphanumeric code. For example, if “Y18703D” is indicated on the bottle, this means that the foundation was produced on July 3 (03) (seventh month) 2018. You can also find information on the company label"use until…". Shelf life after opening - 24 months.
- "Loreal. Perfect Radiance." Shelf life after opening is 16 months.
- "Bourgeois". The label shows the expiry date. The shelf life of the foundation "Bourgeois" after opening is 12 months.
Use and storage rules
To prevent the foundation from spoiling ahead of time, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Do not leave the product in the sun.
- Cream should not be exposed to sudden changes in temperature.
- Keep it in a dark and cool place.
- It is advisable to get the foundation out of the jar not with your fingers, but with a special spoon. The ideal option is cosmetics with dispensers. It eliminates contact with fingers.
- Regularly clean the lid and screw surface from the remnants of the cream, as they quickly oxidize and spoil the rest of the product.
- Wash sponges, sponges and puffs regularly and replace with new ones.
