How to Tell If Your Shampoo, Anti-Aging Creams and Lotions Have Gone Bad

After investing big bucks in your expensive anti-aging creams, it is alarming to realize these products have a relatively short useful shelf life, and at times, can actually be dangerous for your skin. It is surprising to learn that your expensive salon shampoos or the $25 bottles of shampoo from Sephora have a shelf life as well. Here is how to tell if your good creams have gone bad, how to stave that off, and the shelf life for your expensive products.

Anti-aging and Anti-acne Skin Care. After plunking down an what would be viewed by many as an obscene amount of cash on products like La Mer, La Prairie and many a beloved Bliss Lab cream, the shelf life of these and other skin care products is relatively short for how much you paid, typically 3 months to one year. How do you know if your cream is past its prime? If your cream has turned yellow and it is just a regular cream (meaning it has no active ingredients like Vitamin C) then that is likely just the perfume has oxidized and the cream is usable. If the cream is anti-aging or acne creams that contain Vitamin C or other vitamins or retinol or copper, then if it changes color it means the active ingredients have gone bad and are no longer effective. For instance, vitamin C will turn brown, as will retinol, blue copper will turn yellow which makes sort of a pale green color. While you can use the product, the active ingredient you bought it for no longer works.

Body Lotions. The same color test applies to body lotions with active ingredients such as retinol and Vitamins; otherwise the only risk is if the smell is altered probably due to the preservative failing and bacteria getting in the lotion. They should last two to three years.

Shampoo, Conditioner and gels. Shampoos and conditioners should last two to three years, unless you get water from the shower or tub in the bottles, which breaks down the product and makes bacteria grow. If you plunk down money on costly products like Fekkai then try keeping your shampoos and conditioners out of the shower unless when they are in use to avoid contamination.

Sunscreens. Check the packaging for an expiration date, but throw it out if it is separated since it can't re-mix properly to protect your skin.

Perfumes. Perfumes should last two years. There is too much alcohol to host bacteria but if the scent is altered there is not much point keeping it. Don't display your pretty perfume bottles on your vanity or in direct sunlight to delay oxidation.

Nail Enamels. Nail polish lasts for one year. If it is separated, try shaking it, but if it doesn't readily re-mix to original color too much oil is missing. While the old trick of adding some nail polish remover to nail polish that has gotten clumpy does work, just use it as a trick for that one manicure, by your next manicure the nail polish remover likely will have eaten too much polish for it to adhere well. Maximize the shelf life by keeping it out of heat and wiping off the excess polish that keeps you from closing the bottle top.

Some general tips for your very expensive or rare products include not storing your makeup or products in a humid bathroom, instead try to keep them in a cool, dark place whenever possible, perhaps even a refrigerator or bag them in Ziploc baggies. Try to keep your products airtight to avoid oxidation, and keep out of heat and light. Try not to carry your expensive products in your purse so as to avoid undue risk to them.