Expired Moisturizer Is A No-No. Here's How To Tell If Yours Has Gone Bad

Everyone has those few products on their shelves that seem like they have sat there for years. Whether it's been years or not, there's a reason you're starting to hesitate if you should use it or not. While it may seem unfair that a perfect moisturizer has to be thrown out, it's best to start fresh with a new product. Part of the reason many people find that they have an excess amount of products that have gone bad is that we are constantly purchasing new products. According to Skinstore, the skincare industry is growing at a rapid rate. On average, Americans are now spending around $322 a year on only skincare products. They explain that their research shows that Americans will use skincare products for around 47 years, totaling around $15,000 spent on skincare products in their lifetime. With all of this money going into our skincare, the last thing you want to do is apply expired products to your skin.

While we know that expired skincare products are no good for us, it's important to be able to spot signs of expired products before we put them on. Products like moisturizers can be challenging to spot as they are often made in different formulas, meaning they have different signs. However, you want to take the time to spot these signs with a product like moisturizers, which we tend to use daily.

Unfortunately, moisturizers decay, so it's still vital to stay vigilant for signs that your moisturizer is no longer functional. In fact, dermatologist Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse explains to Dermstore that one of the first signs you want to look at is the length of time that has passed since you first opened your moisturizer. Dr. Shainhouse states that the shelf life of most moisturizers is up to one year since you first opened the product. If the product at first glance looks the same as it did when you first used it, you can go ahead and try it out on your skin. If you aren't sure, there are more signs you can look to before using the moisturizer.

Furthermore, Stacked Skincare recommends using your other senses to find out whether your moisturizer is still functional. If your moisturizer is starting to separate, meaning it is more watery or thicker than before, it's likely not good anymore. Another sign it has gone spoiled is the fragrance. Especially with products that contain fragrances, if the product is starting to smell more like chemicals or alcohol, it means the chemicals have started to separate, and the product isn't good anymore. What's more, natural products will have a shorter shelf life, meaning you need to check these more often.

While it's easy to forget to dispose of expired products, you want to avoid using them. Even if it takes an extra day to get rid of these products, you want to ensure you keep your skin healthy. Versed Skincare explains that expired products could be the perfect place for microbes and bacteria to harbor. Using products that contain this bacteria could lead to irritation and other issues. Some skin issues you could experience from using expired products are dermatitis and acne breakouts. Other issues you may have are rashes, pink eye, and infections.

Besides potentially causing you a worse acne breakout or infection, Skincare.com adds that using an expired product is essentially pointless. Once a moisturizer has reached its shelf life, the chemicals and ingredients in the product are no longer working to their highest potency. Once the moisturizer loses its potency, you are not doing anything to help your skincare. So, while it may be easier to finish that moisturizer that's been sitting on your shelf for a while, it's best not to take the risk of creating a much bigger skin problem.