We know it’s hard to say goodbye, but tossing your products when they’re past their prime is part of a healthy skin care routine. Just as you nourish your body with fruits and veggies at their peak freshness, the same goes for your skin care. Follow this guide for tips to keep your products fresh for longer and know when it’s time to toss them.

Can Skin Care Products Go Bad?

Sadly, your skin care products won’t stay fresh forever. Over time, exposure to air, light, moisture and bacteria breaks down products and causes them to degrade. While this won’t do serious harm to your skin, it doesn’t do it any favors. 

When a product is past its prime:

• Bacteria and mold grow
• Active ingredients lose their potency
• Oils become rancid
• Ingredients like retinol and Vitamin C oxidize

In some cases, expired products can cause skin irritation and breakouts. In most, it simply means the active ingredients that were tackling your skin concerns won’t be as effective. For your skin care routine to work its magic, it’s important to keep your products fresh.

How To Keep Skin Care Products Fresh

Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow to keep your skin care products fresh for longer.

Use Clean Hands

Rule number one: Always use clean hands before handling your skin care products. Fingers carry plenty of dirt and grime, and the last thing you want is to transfer unwanted bacteria to your complexion. Eminence Organics makes this easy by including an easy-to-use spatula with many products. This handy item not only keeps your skin care clean but also scoops just the right amount of product for a perfect application. 

Avoid Exposure To Water

Certain products should be kept away from your steamy shower. Anything with a powder base - like our Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant and Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant - should be kept dry. When water mixes with a dry product, it can create a favorable environment for bacteria and mold - two things you want to keep far away from your skin care.

Store Skin Care Products In A Dry, Dark Place

The best place to store your products is in a dry, dark place. Direct sunlight and heat can accelerate the aging of a product and break down its active ingredients. Countertops and vanities that are away from a window are passable, but it’s usually best to store your skin care products in a cabinet or drawer where the sun’s rays can’t reach them.

Ensure Your Products Are Properly Sealed

Depending on the product, your skin care can dry out and harden when left open. Just think about what happens when you forget to put the top back on your toothpaste: Its smooth texture can develop a crust as soon as fresh air hits it. As a general rule, you should properly seal your products in order to maintain their consistency and protect them from air, water and unwanted germs. 

Keep Products At A Consistent Temperature

A surefire way to ruin your products is to flip flop between temperatures. One of the best things you can do to help them keep is avoid extremes - whether hot or cold. Maintaining a consistent temperature will help preserve the active ingredients in your products and keep them fresh for longer.

That said, there’s no harm in storing a few of your favorites in the fridge. Eminence Organics Product Support Team Lead Alicia Hawthorne tells us: “Using a chilled eye cream can help with puffiness and encourage circulation.” Just remember that consistency is key - if you choose to keep your skin care products in the fridge, allow some buffer time before toting them on a tropical vacation.

Avoid Stockpiling Your Skin Care Products

While we love a good #shelfie, be sure you aren’t stockpiling old skin care products. It can be easy to hang onto products for too long, especially if they aren’t in regular rotation. More isn’t necessarily better and if you’re using a product just a few times a year, odds are it’s time to toss it. As for the products you apply regularly, it’s likely you’ll use them up before they have a chance to expire!

When To Toss Your Skin Care Products

Even natural and organic skin care products eventually lose their freshness. While products that are past their prime won’t necessarily harm your skin, they also won’t be doing it any favors. In general, Eminence Organics products are the most fresh in the first 12 to 15 months after the time of purchase. 

Signs A Product Has Expired 

Unsure your product has started to expire? Here are a few signs your skin care has gone off:

• It has started to separate
• It has a funky odor
• Its texture has changed (it becomes lumpy, runny, etc.)

With natural and organic ingredients, it is common for there to be color, scent and texture variance from batch to batch. If you aren’t sure about the state of your skin care product, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help guide you!

For more advice on how to keep your skin care fresh, chat with a licensed esthetician at an Eminence Organics Spa Partner near you!