The shelf life of beauty

Sometimes I look in my closet and really see so many beauty products. I don't want to complain, really not, but to claim that I apply all those jars, tubes, and creams on my face daily: well, uh, no. Actually quite a shame, because half of it you can just throw away after a while. Lid off and very unpleasant smells come out. A wrinkle cream after 3 years of use? Well, it doesn't get rid of any wrinkles. So let's line up the facts.

Average expiration date:

Body lotion: 24 to 30 months

Shampoo: 36 months

Foundation: 12 months

Mascara: 6 months

Face cream: 24 months

Sunscreen: 10 months

Most beauty products have an expiration date. Not in the form of a date on the lid, but more in the form of a small jar with a number and the letter M inside. The M stands for months and the number indicates the amount. So 12M means it is still good for 12 months after opening. That's why it's not so handy to just pull out all jars of cream, mascaras, and lipsticks as soon as you get or buy them; it's better to keep them until you really need them. They will also last a bit longer.

Small footnote

Shampoo, face cream, and body lotion are really incredibly long-lasting. But I do need to make a small note about that. Shampoo, face cream, and body lotion often contain active ingredients. Ingredients that of course do not remain effective for two years.

So this is how you enjoy them the longest.

To enjoy them the longest, you need to store all your products in the right place. Preferably in a cool and dark place. This doesn't mean you have to fill the entire fridge, but do think about it. The bathroom, for example, is also not a smart place because it is very humid, which is also not good for your beauty stash.