How long products last

You will often see serums in brown, blue or green glass containers or other opaque containers. Always apply products with clean hands and make sure you replace the lid or cap tightly. If your moisturiser is packaged in a pot or jar, always remove a small amount of cream with a cosmetic spatula that can be cleaned afterward.

Never dip your finger into the cream as this can introduce bacteria to the product, limiting its shelf life. Never mix water into your products to make it go further as this can contaminate the product. Enjoy this Article? Shop by Top Range. PCA Skin. Dr Barbara Sturm. Shop by Skin Type. Normal or Combination. Dark Marks. Early Ageing, Fine Lines. Oily, Acne-Prone.

Red, Rosacea-Prone. Mature, Sun Damaged. Customer Experience. DermaPoints Loyalty. Terms and Conditions. Clinical Studies. Temperature, humidity and light can cause the product to age faster. Your product will just not perform the way it was intended.

Keeping makeup in airtight containers and a dryer environment will help it last longer. Mascara : 3 months Foundation and concealer : 6 months to 2 years Lipstick : 1 to 2 years Pencil eyeliner : 1 year because you can sharpen it and remove bacteria Cream or gel eyeliner : 2 to 3 months Eyeshadow : 1 to 2 years Blush and bronzer : 1 to 2 years. Moisturizer : 6 months to 1 year Eye cream : 6 months to 1 year Face oil : 1 year Vitamin C serum : 3 to 6 months.

When is it time to throw out your favourite mascara? Two experts weigh in. Photo: iStock. What about the shelf life for other popular skin-care and makeup products like hyaluronic acid?

Retinol, around six months. Mascara, around three months. Sunscreen [is about] two to three years. Use jar products with clean hands. For makeup products, does a powder or cream formula tend to last longer than the other? Having the right preservatives at a high enough concentration is also important.

For example, the preservation system needs to protect both the oil and water parts of an emulsion, and it needs to be compatible with the pH of the product. Using more saturated oils and antioxidants in the formula also helps. The material used for the packaging also needs to be compatible with the formula for a long period of time.

Dark packaging that excludes light also stops light from breaking down the product.