When beauty products make their way into our makeup bags, it’s likely they won’t be removed until they run out and need to be replaced. However, one health and beauty expert warns that this practice can pose significant health risks. This is because using products beyond their recommended shelf life poses a number of risks.
Over time, products containing active ingredients lose their potency as the product becomes less active. This results in the product losing its ability to provide the desired effect. This can be dangerous, especially for SPF use, as it increases the risk of sunburn and sun damage. In addition to sunscreen, there are 3 other products you should never use after their shelf life.
Mascara has a limited shelf life because it forms a liquid, which can actually promote bacterial growth. Using expired mascara increases the risk of bacteria getting into your eyes and causing infections such as conjunctivitis or granuloma, and applying contaminated mascara to your lashes can spread these pathogens to your eyes, potentially leading to infections that can cause redness, itching, swelling, and discharge. So, checking your mascara’s shelf life often is a must!
Treatments and serums also contain active ingredients that can decrease in efficacy over time. This can result in products that do not address the specific skincare concerns they were originally formulated to address, and over time, expired ingredients may change, resulting in skin irritation or allergic reactions. If you are using skincare to treat a specific skin condition such as acne, hyperpigmentation or fine lines, using expired products may not provide the intended benefits. In some cases, it may even worsen the skin condition due to the reduced effectiveness of the active ingredients. Therefore, facial care products must be treated with caution!
