Toss It!...Out With the Old by Holly Ralston Oyler
Originally published in Today’s Woman Magazine, January 2005 Used with permission of Zion Publishing.
There is a deep dark secret that all women who use cosmetics, skin care and fragrance share. the secret is usually rectangular in shape and measures 11 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 6 1/2”.
We all have at least one and most likely more than one - even industry professionals, who know all too well the reasons not to keep one, have them. Yes, I am referring to that “shoebox” hidden on the bathroom or closet shelf in your house. You know the one - it is full of almost-used-up, old, empty and broken cosmetic products, samples and the ever on-going gift-with-purchase items you could not live without at the time.
Over the years and being the romantic person that I am I have decided that the box is a security blanket of sorts, quilted with the lipstick we used on our wedding day (Revlon Fire and Ice), our favorite eye shadow, a remnant of the fragrance our mother or lost love used, a foundation we liked the texture of, the eye creme we paid a week’s salary for (in a very weak moment) and of course, the mascara with the perfect wand. Also sprinkled throughout the box are those endless foam eyeshadow applicators that keep falling out of your eyeshadow compact, you know - the ones that are caked with shiny eye shadow or have the foam falling away from the plastic handle due to age.
It’s January - a new year and time to evaluate the products you are currently using - and the ones stored in that shoebox, drawer or travel bag. It is going to take some extra work dealing with the separation anxiety, but you can do it. And just so you will know, I am not tossing the fragrance items mentioned above.
SHELF LIFE
You can count on one hand the companies that show expiration or sell-by dates on their products. Use common sense and read the packaging. Always save your receipt - especially when purchasing products like mascara. When you get, open the package and smell the product. If it smells old or strong, take it back and request an exchange. If it happens more than once, you may want to change stores.
Dr. Elliott M. Rosengarten, a doctor of optometry in Louisville says, “O counsel patients to discard mascara, powder eye shadows and any other media that may be a good environment for bacteria to grow, no longer than three months after opening. Creams and lotions are less bacteria-friendly and can be kept longer”, adds rosengarten.
When purchasing products that have the “use before” dates, always check the date. If you do get home with a product that is about to expire, don’t open it - take it back and the store should exchange it for a fresher product if available or give you a credit for the purchase.
Clarins® Skin Care Specialist Barbara Lindsey says their products have a shelf life of four to five years if not opened. “Once opened, the client should use the product within six months.” Lindsey also stresses not putting fingertips into products to cut down on the cross-contamination possibilities. “Closing the caps tightly will also keep products fresher and bacteria free,” suggests Lindsey.
ON THE ROAD
Travel with medications and cosmetics stored at temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees. Direct sunlight, extreme heat and/or cold, and freezing weather degrade the preservatives that protect you and keep your products useable. To keep track of your products’ length of storage,use a Sharpie® Pen and mark the bottom of your jars with the purchase date. For a quick reference, place a small monthly calendar inside the door of your medicine cabinet or in your cosmetic drawer. another option is to sticker each item with the purchase date.
To make things simple, travel with a small insulated cooler for your makeup and medications.
THROW IT OUT
If you experience an eye infection or cold sore, throw away any eye or lip products you may have used immediately prior to the infection and do not use any products until the infection has cleared up.
this brings us to the applicators supplied with some cosmetic products. there is a colony of bacteria living in those applicators long before the product runs our of loses it effectiveness. It is best to throw away the on-board applicators once they have been used a few times. Replacement disposable applicators are available in your local Walgreens.
Seasonal products are the most common products we keep from year to year. Sunscreens, self tanners, tanning lotions and moisturizers. After six months, self tanners and sunscreens lose their ingredient integrity, so they are not going to work for you during the next season. It is best to just make it a blanket rule to throw out all seasonal products once the season is over with.
Oh, and about that shoebox...it should contain only shoes from this point forward.
PROJECTED SHELF LIFE OF COSMETICS PRODUCTS
Pencils (Lip and Eye) - average shelf life two (2) years. To keep them free of bacteria, keep the caps on pencil and always sharpen before using. Lip Color and Gloss - average shelf life two (2) years. Be sure to wash your lip brush weekly. Eye Shadow, Powder - average shelf life two years - providing you have not had an eye infection and used the shadow during that time. Eye Shadow, Creme - 12 to 16 months. The emulsions will break down after that period of time. Concealer - 12 to 18 months. Use a spatula to remove from container if a cream. Never use a want for direct application to a blemish and then replace into the tube. Use a brush. SPF Products - one season. Fragrance - one to two years. Avoid direct sunlight when storing. Moisturizer Lotion and Creams - three months to one year. Most ingredients lose their effectiveness after one year. Extreme heat or freezing weather will cause product to separate and curdle. Pressed Powders and Powder Blush - one year. Do not use the puff or sponge applicator over one week without washing them. Oil and sebum from you face will transfer to the powder and cause it to cake, become shiny and cause it to go on with an orange tint. Foundations - six to eight months. Wash sponges and foam applicators once a week. Be careful about extreme heat or cold. If your foundation starts separating, takes on a strange color or smell, it is time to throw it out.
Copyright 1994 - 2009 by Holly Ralston Oyler, Holly Cosmetics, Hollycosmetics.com and Medical Image Products. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and publisher. Individuals may download and print pages for their personal use. All articles and content are available for reprint used with permission and author credit. For permissions, email Holly at hollyoyler@mac.com
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