 How
Long Is Too Long for Makeup?
How Long Is Too Long for Makeup?
Let's face it-most women are guilty of keeping makeup around
for way too long. They think they are being thrifty by making
cosmetics last as long as possible. After all, they've spent
a lot of money on them and don't want to be wasteful by throwing
away "perfectly good products." Little do they know
that these "perfectly good products" can make them
sick if the products are too old? As consumers, you need to
be aware of the dangers of using makeup that is too old. As
beauty supply retailers, you have the added responsibility
of educating your customers on the necessity of regularly
replacing cosmetics.
Because cosmetics contain water, oils and other ingredients
that enable bacteria, fungi and viruses to grow, consumers
need to be aware of how long different types of cosmetics
can be used before they become unsafe. Although powerful preservatives
are used in cosmetic products to prevent the growth of harmful
bacteria and other germs that cause infection, they are only
effective for a certain amount of time. In addition, external
factors such as exposure to heat, air and light reduce the
potency of preservatives and cause products to deteriorate
sooner. |
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 So,
although preservatives play a crucial role in ensuring cosmetic
safety, their effectiveness depends on the age of the product
and on the extent of heat, light and air exposure of the product.
The best way to make sure that cosmetics are safe is to store
them correctly and to replace them often. Correct storage
means keeping product containers tightly closed to minimize
exposure to the air and placing them in cool, dark places
where they have limited contact with light and heat. The shelf
life of specific cosmetic items varies. For example, the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that special attention
be paid to eye-area cosmetics because of the risk of eye infections.
Other products, such as nail polish, present a lower risk
of infection and therefore have a longer shelf life. Here
are some guidelines to help you advise customers on how often
they should replace their cosmetics:
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Mascara: 3
months
Eye gels and creams: 3 months
Moisturizers: 3 months to 1 year
Face creams and lotions: 6 months
Sunscreen and products with SPF: 1 season
Blush or foundation sponges: 1 week
Concealer: 12 to 18 months
Liquid foundation: 3 to 6 months
Powder foundation or blush: 2 years
Powder eye shadow: 2 years
Cream eye shadow: 12 to 18 months
Eyeliner: 2 years
Lip liner: 2 years
Lipstick: 1 to 2 years
Lip-gloss: 1 to 2 years
Fragrance: 1 to 2 years
Nail polish: 2 years
Toners: 1 year
Face wash: 1 to 2 years
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Many factors affect the safety
and efficacy of various cosmetic products. For example,
creams that are packaged in wide-mouthed jars are more
susceptible to contamination because the products are
exposed to more air and thus break down more rapidly.
Products such as moisturizers, creams and toners that
contain antioxidants like Vitamins A, C & E or other
active ingredients need to be replaced regularly because
their daily light and air exposure reduces their potency.
Concealers are especially vulnerable to contamination
because they are used to cover blemishes that may be infected
or that may contain more bacteria. If the brush used to
apply the concealer is not cleaned after each use, it
will spread the germs. Other products that are open to
contamination are lipsticks, lip-glosses, lip liners and
lip brushes if they are used when the consumer has cold
sores or fever blisters.
Products can become spoiled even before the recommended
expiration period. Generally, if a product changes color,
smells bad or irritates the skin, it should be discarded
immediately. Here are some typical signs of contamination
and spoilage to look out for:
* Foundations, creams, nail polish: Ingredients
begin to settle or separate, texture thins or thickens.
* Mascara: The product becomes clumpy or the brush
doesn't transfer the product evenly onto lashes.
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*Lipstick: Oils turn rancid, product loses shine
and becomes matte, color fades, and drops appear on the
product.
* Pressed powder and powder eye shadow: Glaze forms
on top, product dries and crumbles, or cracks.
* Oil-free foundation: Product darkens, dries out and
becomes clumpy.
 United
States regulations do not require cosmetics manufacturers to
specify expiration dates on their products, but most manufacturers
provide voluntary shelf-life guidelines, which vary depending
on the product and its intended use. Doina Sandulache, vice
president of Skincare Research and Development at BioCosmetic
Research said, "Usually cosmetic products should be replaced
between 12 and 24 months." She adds that skin care products
have a shorter shelf life and should be replaced after six months.
To achieve the best results when using their skin care products,
Sandulache suggests that customers use the products as often
as recommended.
This means that the products are often finished long before
six months is up and the risk of contamination is obviously
reduced.
So remember to ask your customers when they replaced their cosmetics
last. Apart from generating extra sales for your store, you
will be doing your customers a favor by alerting them to the
hazards of using old makeup!
Article taking from "OTC" magazine issue Apr 2006
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