Happy New Year! We hope 2022 has begun well for you. The new year, for many, will feel like a fresh start, a time to declutter and organise and a chance to create new habits or resolutions. Now is a great time to clear out old beauty products and only keep what serves you.
Most of us will have jars, tubs and bottles of unopened or part used products, things that we once loved or items that we tried. However, unless you really fall in love with a product that you just can’t live without, the unloved items tend to build up in the backs of our drawers.
So when is it time to part with the products that you haven’t used in a while?
Firstly, check the expiry date on products. Usually, unopened cosmetics will have a shelf life of about 2 years. However, once these products are opened, their shelf life is often reduced to anything from 3 – 18 months. Whilst, using products after this time may not be unsafe (always read the label), they are likely to have degraded and be less effective than intended.
Products such as perfumes will degrade in sunlight and heat as these conditions break down the chemical bonds that give perfumes their scent. This is why your perfume may not smell the same as it did when you first bought it.
Cosmetics such as mascaras, eyeliners and eyeshadows should be replaced regularly. Not only because mascaras will dry up quickly once opened and will lead to the appearance of clumpy, spidery lashes but also if you are prone to eye infections such as styes or conjunctivitis then these products are a breeding ground for organisms and reinfections can occur easily. This is why these types of cosmetics should not be shared with others.
It’s true that our skin and hair needs may change throughout the seasons and as we age. However, you do not need every single item on the market and not every celebrity endorsed product will be suitable for you or as effective as their marketing suggests. There is no need to impulse buy the latest trend. Instead focus on your main skin concerns and keep your routines simple. Overloading the skin or hair with too many products can have adverse effects and create more concerns that you’ll want to treat. Keep key products that you love and give you the results you want.
Finally, it can feel wasteful throwing away old products but, check to see if the packaging can be recycled. Some brands have their own recycling schemes, check them out online. Empty jars and tubs, remove labels and reuse the packaging for something else, such as storage solutions or decant your favourite products to keep in your hand bag or as travel essentials.
Kommentare