Do you ever look at your skin care products or makeup and think, “I am sure this is definitely not supposed to look like this or smell like this.”
News flash…it’s not supposed to and knowing when to throw your products will save you from embarrassing infections or rashes and ensure that you are still applying useful creams and serums on your skin versus wasting your precious time with expired products that have lost their effectiveness.
There are a few easy tricks you can use to estimate whether or not it is time to throw your products away. Using your basic senses of sight, smell and touch you can make this an easy process.
Smell… When you are rummaging through your refrigerator on the nights you don’t have time to cook and discover that container of leftovers; what is the very first instinct you have? Smell it! Our brain will always instinctively guide us to avoid putting expired food into our system. Trust this instinct and start smelling your products when you first purchase them. This ensures you commit the smell of the fresh product to memory. In the future smell the product before you apply it. If it’s smell has changed, GET RID OF IT. A great example is when a lipstick smells like clay or putty. That’s not right, GET RID OF IT.
Appearance… If your makeup or skincare changes in appearance GET RID OF IT. If your powder eyeshadow or blush looks glazed over it is time to GET RID OF IT. The oils from your face have transferred from your brushes or fingers to the product and bacteria have hardened its top most layer. Do not just scrape this layer off, GET RID OF IT. An eye infection from bacteria laden product is not worth the $5.00 in left over product you are contemplating keeping. If your cream eyeshadow, cream blush, lipstick or lip gloss has started to fade then GET RID OF IT. It has been bleached by light exposure and will no longer give you a lasting application due to its loss of pigmentation. Don’t waste your time by putting on a product that won’t last. If a skin care serum or cream looks darker in color then it did when you originally purchased it or if it has broken down and now has a watery consistency then GET RID OF IT. Active ingredients will break down after a period of time changing the products effectiveness. Exposure to extreme temperatures and light are a few factors that can speed up the breakdown of these items.
Consistency… If any product with a creamy consistency feels dry or is cracked GET RID OF IT. When a products consistence changes it is a sign that the product has begun to break down and it is losing, or has lost, its effectiveness. Most products have a suggested use by date and a recommended dosage on the container or packaging; follow this guideline. You are not doing yourself any favors by using half of the recommended dosage or keeping a product past its prime. You are most likely not applying enough of the product to see results or you are using something that is no longer going to be able to deliver visible results due to ineffectiveness after expiration.
When in doubt refer to the guideline below.
These estimates of times are for after a makeup product has been opened and the suggested dates only apply if the amount of time is within any date specific expiration provided by the manufacturer.
Concealer- Replace every 18 months.
Cream Blush- replace every 18 months.
Cream Eye shadow- Replace every 12 months. After any bacterial eye infection get rid of this product immediately.
Eye Shadow- Replace every 12-18 months. After any bacterial eye infection get rid of this product immediately.
Eyeliner- Replace every 12 months. After any bacterial eye infection get rid of this product immediately. Sharpening a pencil eye liner after or before each use will extend its life to 24 months.
Foundation – Replace every 12 months if it is in an airless pump. Replace every 6-8 months of you dip your fingers into the product. Are you prone to breakouts? If so, get rid of your foundation every six months if you can dip your fingers into it.
Lip Gloss- Replace every 12 months.
Lipstick- Replace every 12 months.
Mascara- Replace every three months. After any bacterial eye infection get rid of this product immediately.
Nail Polish- Replace every two years or after any fungal infection.
Powder Blush or Bronzer- Replace every 18 months.
Spring Cleaning Part 2
Now that you have whittled down any expired products let’s move onto step two. Preparing your skin for the best spring ever. This is so simple and is often completely left undone.
We are going to continue your cleanse and moisturize regimen of everyday- twice a day. We are going to add in a toner or other type of exfoliating element on an every other day basis and add a mask in once a week.
Picking the right product to add into your regimen is a simple as looking at your skin.
Does it look dry? Add in a hydrating mask once a week and use an enzymatic form of exfoliation to remove any dead skin cells before doing so to ensure the best results possible.
Does it look oily? Add in a glycolic or salicylic toner to remove any excess sebum or build up of dead skin that could be causing your skin to go into a stage of excess oil production.
Does it have sunspots or age spots? Add in a lightener that is hydroquinone free or a retinol to lighten and brighten your skin before summer gets here. Remember that retinols are best used in the winter due to the lack of sun exposure we receive this time of year.
Does it have blackheads or whiteheads? Try using an enzymatic mask once a week in the shower or add in a Clarisonic Pro to your regimen and bump up your frequency of exfoliation. Another great option is an active cleanser that will target your specific skin type, tone and texture.
Do your pores appear large? Add in a glycolic toner to exfoliate and visible reduce the size of your pores due to the toner providing a significant decrease in sebum and dead skin cells blocking the pore.
Does it seem to become more and more lined by the minute? Retinols and peptides to the rescue; including a retinol product in your regimen 3 to 4 times a week and applying a peptide based anti aging cream or moisturizer on a daily basis will provide visible results in a matter of months.
Do your eyes need a pick me up? There a tons of eye creams on the market. Most of them are full of fillers and inactive products. Look for a product that has its active ingredients within the first few lines and limits is filler or binding elements to a minimum.
If you are at a total loss and are ready to throw your hands in the air screaming “I give up.” Come in to Simply Moore and seek professional assistance and advice. A simply facial will work to hydrate, tighten, eliminate blackheads/whiteheads, significantly reduce surface bacteria and can also guide you toward the right product for your skin care concerns or issue. Our fist time facial clients find comfort from our skin care analysis that is included in their facials. We differ in the fact that we ask to see all of the products you are using at home before we begin the facial. We are never here to judge or belittle your current routine. We simply make suggestions on usage and additional products to help alleviate any persistent concerns or issues.
Are you thinking beyond a standard facial? A series of Chemical Peels or Microdermabrasions would be a great thing to squeeze in before summer is in full swing. They are amazing treatments used to boost collage production, hydrate your skin, repair the damage from dry or irritated winter skin and simultaneously lighten and brighten.
Fretting the backless dresses and pool parties summer brings with it? Come in for a backial. This treatment radically reduces bacteria from your back, neck and shoulders while working to reduce red, inflamed, acne prone skin. Aestheticians use therapeutic massage techniques to apply lightening agents and enzymatic masks that reduce scarring and promote healthy new cell growth. You will leave feeling relaxed, refreshed and completely hydrated.
Visit simply-moore.com for more from Makeup Artist, Michael Moore
