Best Before: A Skincare Expiry Guide

Checking Your Skincare Expiry Date

Checking the expiry dates on most things, like food, is second nature. But when did you last go through your skincare products to see which ones have outlived their shelf life?

Does Skincare Expire?

We hate to break it to you, but yes! your skincare products have a shelf life, just like most other things. That said, because different skincare products vary so much in terms of active ingredients, there’s no real rhyme or reason to the different expiry dates given by manufacturers.

Cosmetics regulators are clear that the dates printed on moisturisers, serums and beauty products are essentially ‘rules of thumb’. How you store your products (which we’ll come to in more detail later) is ultimately the most important factor when it comes to spoilage.

The Average Shelf Life of Your Skincare Products

If you take a close look at your beauty products, you’ll probably spot a lot of numbers. There could be a manufacture date, a use-by date, a batch code and more. You may even see numbers like 6, 12, 24 and so on, which tell you how many months your product will last once it’s been opened.

While you should always go by the dates on your individual products, there are also some handy figures on the average shelf life of skincare products:

Moisturisers

Your favourite moisturiser can last upwards of 30 months unopened, and around a year once you've started using it. After that, it may be exposed to bacteria or turn watery.

All the more reason to get through yours while it's at its best, ideally with one for each end of the day. nine-to-five is the morning half of the job: an air-whipped gel-cream that depuffs, brightens and sweeps away the signs of a late night, so you start the day looking as awake as you'd like to feel. Then five-to-nine takes the night shift, sinking into tired skin like you sink into bed, working overnight to moisturise, restore and strengthen a damaged skin barrier. Both are powered by molecular sunshine, our signature ingredient complex that mimics the benefits of sunshine (without the harmful rays) and supports barrier strength for a radiant, mood-boosting glow.

Serums, Retinoids & Vitamins

If you use eye serums and retinoids from a pump or tube, they can be used for up to a year, whether they've been opened or not. Be warned, though if you use products from a jar, you'll want to buy a new one six months after opening, as the product is exposed to far more air and bacteria.

So if your brightening step has been sitting untouched at the back of a drawer, it's time for a refresh. glow potion melts from a light gel into a silky liquid as you smooth it on, sinking in to deliver a powerhouse of brightening and smoothing ingredients for a more even, youthful-looking complexion, one for the morning. And because under-eyes deserve their own thing entirely, eye pillow cushions tired eyes in whipped, pillowy gel-cream, plumping and smoothing while a 360° shimmer delivers that 'got-my-eight-hours' glow, even when you very much didn't.

Masks

Sealed cream and gel masks can last for two to three years, or typically a year after opening. Clay and natural masks may dry out more quickly once opened.

And once you've peeled yours off, keep that hydration going with crystal clear. This ocean-inspired micro mist smells like a holiday and feels like instant hydration, topping up moisture while working over time to help restore, refine and balance stressed complexions. Keep it close — your perfect beach day is only a spritz away.

Signs It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Your Skincare Products

We know that parting with your favourite skincare products can be tough, especially when there’s still a bit left in the pot.

While unopened expired skincare is sometimes still usable, you should always trust your instincts and use your senses before putting anything on your face.

So when should you throw out your skincare?

If you notice…

• a change in colour, consistency or smell
• separation of the ingredients
• your skin becoming irritated after use

Expired skincare products can be ineffective and, at worst, lead to irritation or a skin infection.

How to Make Your Skincare Products Last Longer

If you’d like your skincare to last longer, here are a few easy things you can do:

1. Store your products properly, in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
2. Don’t share products such as creams or make-up.
3. Avoid leaving opened jars out, and always seal your products after use.
4. Try not to dip your fingers in repeatedly, to avoid contamination (or opt for tubes and pumps rather than jars).
5. Check the expiry dates on your products every six months.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to say goodbye to your out-of-date skincare and treat yourself to something new.

Shop our full collection of skincare at Patchology today.