Afraid Of Stockpiling Expired? How to Keep Skincare For Longer？

Hoarding has almost become a woman's "nature". Discounts, special sales, and limited quantities are the main culprits that trigger the "tragedy" of hoarding. However, when there are more and more skin care products in stock, those that are not used can be piled up into a fortress. Seeing that the expiration date is approaching, what can we do without taking some measures! Today, the editor will teach you a few tricks to extend the shelf life of skin care products and solve your concerns.

Interpretation of the shelf life of cosmetics and the use period after opening

Generally speaking, the effective shelf life of general skin care products is marked on the product. For example, all products without additives are valid for one year, and they should be used up within one year after opening. Remember, all expiration dates refer to the number of years the product can be kept unopened, and if the product is opened, try to use it up.

Stick a piece of paper with the expiration date and opening date on the bottom of the bottle each time you open a cosmetic package. The expiry date of many products is printed on the outer box, and the box is likely to be lost due to poor storage, but not the bottle.

Counting the causes of cosmetic deterioration

For some products, although they are within the shelf life, there may be unexpected situations such as water-oil separation and precipitation of particles due to various reasons such as storage environment, temperature, or whether the product itself is stable. The following factors can accelerate cosmetic deterioration:

1. Unstable components become the source of deterioration

Skin care products with high water content, such as lotions, lotions, and creams, tend to nourish bacteria and are not easy to preserve.

There are some special ingredients, such as unsaturated fatty acids, although they are good nutrients for the skin, they are easy to become rancid, and proteins, amino acids, hyaluronic acid and peptides need to be added with preservatives to avoid deterioration. And some skin care products with no additives, no preservatives, and various active ingredients that are sensitive to light will also reduce their efficacy over time. The fresher these products are used, the better, and they are not suitable for long-term stockpiling.

 

2. Be careful when opening the bottle

First of all, don't throw away the outer box of skin care products too soon, exposed products will be more susceptible to ambient light and temperature.

Secondly, before needing to use, ensure the integrity of the package as much as possible, do not open the inner cover or the sealed tin film, and prevent the contact between the product and the air. A good storage method is the basic condition for stockpiling.

3. Packaging is also very important

Not only to see whether the packaging is beautiful, but also to see whether the seal of the product is sufficiently sealed. The packaging that is conducive to fresh-keeping can greatly reduce the risk of stockpiling. For example, the press-pump packaging can isolate the air to the greatest extent, and extend the active shelf life even if the package is opened; and dropper-type products do not need to directly touch the product with hands, and can have a relatively long shelf life.

As for most of the large bottle mouth creams that are taken directly by hand, in addition to the large area of ​​contact with the air, it is easy to breed bacteria, and frequent contact with hands is also easy to bring bacteria. The shelf life is the shortest. It is recommended to use it up within six months after opening.

 

Cream: It should be used up within 1 year after opening, but if you take it directly from the bottle by hand, it will accelerate the deterioration.

Emulsion: Milky lotion can also be used for 1 year, water-based lotion deteriorates faster, and once it has an odor, it means that it is no longer fresh.

Eye cream: It can be used for up to 1 year. If the oil emulsion separates or produces a peculiar smell, it may mean that the oil in the eye cream has deteriorated and should be discarded early. Eye cream is also a high-risk product, and it may get into the eyes accidentally when using it, so be sure to choose a safe product.

Sunscreen: Unopened can be stored for 2-3 years, but the sunscreen after opening is best used up in the same year. Editor's note: The sun protection degree of sunscreen products may be reduced every other year. If the SPF value is low, the effect is even less guaranteed.​​

Liquid foundation: It can be used for 1-2 years, but if the texture becomes thick, the oil and milk are separated, discolored, or have an odor, it must be replaced with a new one. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

It becomes like this, even if it has not expired, it can't be used.

Some skin care products have deteriorated due to poor preservation, even if they have not passed the shelf life. At this time, you can't keep using it for the excuse of saving money or being reluctant to wait. Instead, you should throw it into the trash can and take it away.

Discoloration: The original color of skin care products has changed, because bacteria produce pigments that make skin care products yellow, brown or even black.

 

Fermentation: It refers to the production of bubbles and strange smells in cosmetics. It is due to bacterial fermentation, which decomposes the organic matter in cosmetics to produce acid and gas, making it smelly and bubbles.

Oil-water separation: It refers to the thinning of cosmetics and water, because the bacteria contain enzymes that hydrolyze proteins and lipids, which decompose the proteins and lipids in cosmetics, and the degree of emulsification is destroyed, resulting in deterioration.

Long spot: refers to the appearance of green, yellow, black and other mildew spots on cosmetics, which is caused by moisture contamination of cosmetics by mildew.

Mildew: refers to the appearance of flocculent or divergent cosmetics, which is caused by the reproduction of bacteria in the paste and the production of carbon dioxide gas under the condition of high temperature.

4 ways to extend the life of skin care products

Skin care products are exposed to oxygen, bacteria, heat, or due to changes in humidity, which can react with the environment and affect their efficacy. Therefore, it has always been emphasized that skin care products should be carefully preserved. But how to save it? Take a look below.

1. Anti-dirty: Prevent unclean hands from touching skin care products

Many skin care products have oil-soluble substances, and the bacteria on the hands are easily dissolved into the skin care products, which will accelerate the change of chemical composition. Use the product with clean hands or special tools to avoid mixing with others.

2. sunscreen: prevent direct sunlight products

First of all, the high temperature caused by the light makes the skin care products easy to deteriorate. The second light, as a free radical of certain chemical reactions, can easily induce the deterioration reaction, which will oxidize the oil and fragrance and destroy the pigment. The color cosmetics should be stored in the dark.

3. High temperature protection: avoid placing beauty products in high temperature places

The high temperature above 35 ℃ will destroy the emulsified body of the skin care product, resulting in the separation of fat and water, and the dry shrinkage of the powder skin care product, which will make the skin care product deteriorate and fail. The higher the temperature, the faster the chemical reaction, and the higher the temperature, the shorter the shelf life of skin care products.

4. Moisture-proof: try not to put skin care products in the bathroom

Most of the reactions are carried out in water-soluble, so once the skin care products enter the water, it will induce a metamorphic reaction. The excessively humid environment will accelerate the reproduction of bacteria in the skin care products containing proteins and lipids and cause deterioration.

And most of the water entering skin care products is unclean water, so skin care products deteriorate faster. Since skin care products are easy to deteriorate, it is recommended to buy individually packaged products, each time the amount is just enough for your beauty needs. In this way, the remaining product is completely uncontaminated and the freshest product is guaranteed.

Other than that, you can try a beauty fridge, which is specially designed for storing skin care products, most kitchen refrigerators run between 32°F-37°F, which can be harmful to skin care products. Active ingredients may freeze, decompose and become damaged. And the skincare fridge is cool enough for skin care and beauty products, but not enough to damage the products. It prolongs product shelf life, helps calm and de-puffy skin, reduces harmful bacteria, reduces greasiness and relieves acne.