What You Need to Know About Product Shelf Life

What You Need to Know About Product Shelf Life

My dear elegant lady, this is a quick reminder that you should discard your old lipstick collection. There is that one lipstick that makes you feel like a boss lady right? I love my Maybelline matte because it does not transfer and complements my complexion. Purple means royalty and when I wear this particular purple lipstick I feel like a goddess. 

However, I realized that lipstick got a lifespan. By 12 – 18 months you have to discard them. Used finished or unfinished. The best ones are expensive and that’s the secret behind the business. This realization got me thinking about just how long your beauty products should last.

My passion for writing on the impact of the beauty industry on environmental sustainability got me wondering what to throw away and when. The most used chemicals in the manufacturing of beauty products include lead, paraben, butylated hydroxytoluene, Formaldehyde, and phthalates among others.

Preservative systems are extremely important to make a product safe. A food preservative is a broad spectrum and it is what makes products last longer. Paraben tops the list of chemicals used in beauty products, it is harmful and can cause hormonal imbalance. Lead found in lipstick is highly toxic considering that sometimes it can be ingested. Butylated Hydroxytoluene(BHT) prevents beauty products from changing color or texture when exposed to air. It may cause skin irritation. Formaldehyde is used in making nail polish and eyelash glue and it is toxic when inhaled. Mineral oil is common in our lotions and creams but it also causes clogged skin and coats skin hence blocking the pores. Phthalates which is a chemical compound that softens plastics and products consistency is commonly used to make nail polish less brittle when worn out and hair spray that softens hair

After following a natural hair growing enthusiasts group on Facebook, I came to know of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. I am keen on getting hair products that are sulfate free. They are commonly used to give more form and lather on hair but are toxic to the skin.

The key players in the manufacturing of beauty products owe the world answers on what they have been doing concerning environmental sustainability. Manufacturers of beauty products must commit to sustainability in the beauty industry by using alternative ingredients. I still advocate for the use of natural ingredients like honey, and turmeric. I have recently seen snail serums in the market.

For consumers, I recommend the use of products consciously. consumers should be made aware of the impact of the products they are using. The purchasing behavior should be shaped by the manufacturers' efforts in ensuring our environment is protected. This will push brands to make deliberate efforts in sustainability at the manufacturing stage. According to the Masterclass website manufacturers are not compelled by law to indicate expiry dates on products but checking on labels, and assessing changes in smell, color, and texture of products are some of the used by consumers to, decide when to discard a product.

One may argue that longer shelf life limits the disposal of packaging products but does it also put the user at risk of infections? How about the long-term effects of the chemicals used in production? I still believe that the issues around packaging are also to be addressed separately. We cannot continue to use some packaging and sachet sampling for marketing.

Below is a list of the shelf life of most products used by women.

Makeup Expiration Dates You Need to Know

Here's the shelf-life of every cream, powder, and pencil you own, so you know when it's time to treat yourself to some new stuff.

  • Concealer: one year
  • Cream blush: one year
  • Eyeliner: three months
  • Eyeliner pencil: two years
  • Eyeshadow: one year
  • Foundation: one year
  • Lip balm: one to five years
  • Lip gloss: one year
  • Lipstick: two years
  • Liquid eyeliner: three months
  • Mascara: three months
  • Nail polish: one year
  • Powder blush: two years

How Often You Should Toss and Replace All Toiletries

Don't forget to sort through your toiletries, too. Do you even remember how long you've had that bottle of shampoo? Probably not. This checklist will help give your bathroom cabinets a fresh start.

  • Bar soap: 18 months to three years
  • Bath oil: one year
  • Body bleaches and depilatories: six months
  • Body lotion: two years
  • Body wash: three years
  • Deodorant: one to two years
  • Disposable razors: every five to seven shaves
  • Eye cream: one year
  • Face cream: two years
  • Hair brush: one year
  • Hair gel: two to three years
  • Hair spray: two to three years
  • Loofah: six months
  • Makeup sponge: one month
  • Medications: check the label
  • Mouthwash: three years from the manufacture date
  • Nail polish remover: indefinitely
  • Perfume: one to two years
  • Shampoo and conditioner: two to three years
  • Shaving cream: two years
  • Sunscreen: three years
  • Toothbrush: three months
  • Tooth-whitening strips: 13 months

Time to do the much-needed clean-up, right?


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