What happens if you use expired beauty products, according to dermatologists
Your treatment and makeup may not work as well, but it could also be dangerous for your health.
Whether It's makeup , skin care or haircut, we all have our favorite beauty products. But sometimes we love these articles to the point where it is difficult to part with them - even when they have exceeded their peak. Once they have reached their expiration date - something that many of us rarely check - they could very well become unfit for use. And the use of expired beauty products can have harmful effects on our skin, our hair and overall health . Here, we have exploited higher dermatologists to discuss the risks of using expired beauty products. Read more to find out why you may want to clean your pharmacy cabinet and makeup bag.
Read this then: What happens if you don't wash your hair for a week, according to doctors .
How do you know if a beauty product has expired?
The conservation time of beauty products varies from one product to another, but most of them have an expiration date indicated on the packaging. This date means the period during which the product remains stable and effective. After this period, the product can start to deteriorate, lose its power and become a reproductive ground for bacteria and fungi.
"The expiration dates exist on skin care products to show the date on which the products have proven to be stable and without contamination," explains dermatologist Joshua Zeichner , MD. He says that using a product beyond its expiration date is not an "non-absolute", but there are main risks. Here are the greatest warnings of dermatologists.
This could cause eruptions or an allergic reaction.
Dermatologist Jeanette Graf , MD says that expired beauty products can cause allergic reactions, especially if they have been formulated with ingredients that are known to allergens or irrogatives.
This generally happens because "as active and inactive ingredients decompose over time, their chemical composition can change to create irritation and allergic reactions", explains dermatologist Mona Gohara , Md.
These changes in the chemical composition can cause "inflammation, rashes, irritation, acne eruptions and possibly contact dermatitis", adds dermatological surgeon Dendy Engelman , Md, faad.
Gohara notes that once again, as the chemical composition changes, lighter products can change their nature to become more fatty and tights, leading to eruptions.
It could cause sunburn.
Whether it is a sunscreen or makeup with a SPF component, the use of these products after their expiration date is particularly dangerous.
On their website, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warns that the expired sunscreen provides "no insurance that they remain Sure and fully effective . "If your sunscreen does not display an expiration date, it must be considered expired after three years, they advise.
Engelman adds that solar screens with natural ingredients such as plant extracts generally expire earlier than those containing conservatives.
Read this then: What happens if you do not clean your makeup brushes for more than a month, according to experts .
This could lead to an infection.
Speaking of conservatives, this is what helps to ward off bacteria in beauty products. But once the product reaches its expiration date, they are not as effective and your cream or your foundation becomes more sensitive to bacteria and other microbes, note Gohara.
"The application of a contaminated product on your skin, especially if there are open or raw areas, can mean potential infection," warns Zeichner.
Engelman says it is very careful with eye creams "to avoid eye infections that can cause vision problems." The same goes for the expired mascara and eyeliner, which can also cause If the bacteria have entered, Graf told Health.com.
Care products may not work.
As we know, the ingredients of beauty products are starting to break down near their expiration date, which means that they will not be as effective.
Care products that contain active ingredients such as retinoids, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and alpha hydroxy acids will therefore be "starting to lose their power", explains Engelman.
Makeup can be discolored or lumpy.
Regarding makeup specifically, dermatologist Kristina Collins , MD says that color pigments will change over time and will not last so long on the skin. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
According to Mayo Clinic, this is particularly problematic with foundation products. "The more foundations are kept after purchase, It can oxidize . This oxidation can change the color. ""
The texture of the foundation can also change, so "it can be difficult to make a uniform application", adds Collins. The mascara can also change texture and continue very lumpy.
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Here's how you can be safe in your beauty products.
All beauty products have a shelf life, and once you open the product, the clock begins. But there are simple ways to guarantee their effectiveness.
In general, quality care products should be stored at room temperature, dermatologist and plastic surgeon Jaimie Derosa . But be sure to read the packaging; For example, certain preservative care products can do better held in the refrigerator .
Where you get your beauty products can also make a difference. "Online large -scale large distribution centers can store products in warehouses not controlled by the climate before shipping, which means that you can have a beauty product which has decomposed in heat and which is ineffective and / or causes unwanted reactions, such as rastered rashes or irritation, "says Derosa.
Now that you know why you should launch unused beauty products once they are expired, it is important to note that listening to it correctly is also essential. Some products may contain harmful chemicals and ingredients that can pollute the soil and water if they are not properly eliminated (such as nail polish remove, for example), so make sure you read the relevant information on packaging.