subject: Skincare. Use It or Lose It [print this page] Skincare. Use It or Lose ItSkincare. Use It or Lose It
Why do so many skincare companies put products in 1 to 6 ounce containers? Why not supersize them, like some discount retailers do?
In case you've missed the evening news recently, the problem is that supersized products may be false economy. Here's why:
1. Just about all personal cosmetic products have a shelf life. You can see that date printed on the jarit's called the PAO (Period After Opening)an illustration of a little open jar, with a number insidelike 6M, 12M, etc. That stands for 6 months, 12 months, etc. how long the product will stay fresh after it has been opened. Skincare companies are not required to include the PAO on the package.
2. Some products will lose their potency after repeated exposure to light or air. Vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acid and hydroquinonecuriously, they're some of the best and most effective ingredientsall are particularly vulnerable. Airtight, opaque packaging helps, but it's not fail-safe. As someone told me once, "it's impossible to make anything fool-proof, because fools are so ingenious."
3. Products that are applied directly to your facefor example, lip gloss, lip balm, eyeliner and mascara, become breeding grounds for bacteria. You're not doing yourself any favors by keeping them long past their expiration date. That's why so many skincare products are sold in airtight pumpsto reduce the possibility of contamination.
4. Cosmetics and skincare products need to be stored properlyaway from direct light or heat, and with the jar firmly closed. Don't keep them in your carespecially during the summer.
5. Loofahs and sponges are frequently the host for bacteria. All of those nooks and crannies, and the moist bathroom environment, are conducive to bacterial contamination. The bathroom is "a fertile ground for mold, bacteria, fungus and streptococcus, and these things make you vulnerable to acne and infections.
Here's my recommendation for the useful life of skincare and cosmetics:
Cream and gel cleansers: One year
Serums: Six months
Liquid foundation: Six months if it is in squeezable packaging, two months in any other form
Concealer: Three months
Loose powder: Two years
Pressed powder: 18 months
Eye shadow: Two years if powder, two months if it's cream, unless it is in a squeezable or airtight container
Mascara: Three months (but discard sooner if it dries out)
Eyeliner: Up to three years for regularly sharpened pencils, two months for cream or liquid eyeliners
Blush: Two years for powder, two months for cream
Makeup sponges: Wash after each use and throw away after two weeks
Lipstick: One year
Lip gloss: 18 months
Lip liner: Up to three years if sharpened regularly
Nail polish: One year
For more information on Skincare, visit http://www.zoskinhealth.com for more information.
