The Skinsmith's Guide To Product Freshness
The Skinsmith | 16th January 2023
Do Products Go Off?
When you invest in good quality products it can be hard to let them go if they have been around for a while, but just like fresh fruits and veges organic products that go past their best before date may need to go!
How Do I know When It’s Time To Say Good-Bye?
Over time your products are exposed to factors that will cause them to go off and degrade. Things that can break down the effectiveness and freshness of products include; exposure to the air, light and sun, moisture or damp environments and bacteria. Products that are past their best won’t necessarily cause you any significant harm, it isn’t the best thing for your skin either!
Here are some tips to you know when your products are not as fresh as they should be:
- You may see unwanted growth of bacteria or mould
- Products may solidify or dry out
- Oils may go rancid
- Products do not seem as effective as the active ingredients lose their potency
- Colour or texture may change as the products oxidise from exposure to air
- The smell alters and most likely for the worse!
If you do use a product that is past it best there is a possibility it could cause irritation or breakouts especially if bacteria has started to affect your old time product.
To ensure your skincare products work at their optimum for best results, keep them fresh by using them regularly.
The Best Ways To Keep Your Products Fresh To Last Longer:
There are some very quick and simple ways to keep your products fresher for longer:
- Put the lids on and seal them tight – as exposure to air and unwelcome germs can cause your products to perish faster a very simple way to ensure your products last longer is to put the lids on immediately after use and make sure they are secure. This will help to prevent exposure to air, germs and even water!
- Avoid water and steam – exposure to water may cause bacteria and mould to grow as water provides the perfect environment for them to flourish. There are also some products that are best kept away from steam as well! If you leave certain products in the shower where it can get very steamy this can cause them to perish quicker and dry products especially, such as Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant, Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant and Turmeric Energizing Treatment, these are best kept where the environment is dry too.
- Consider where you keep them – storing your products in the best place will make a difference to how long they stay fresh. Direct sunlight and heat can quicken the speed of degradation of your products so it can be beneficial to keep them in a dark, dry place. Try to avoid windowsills, shelves, or units near windows or even close to radiators. Instead opt for a cabinet or draw to keep them away from light and heat.
- Try to avoid extreme temperature changes – consistency is key to keeping your products at their best as extreme heat or cold can affect their potency and freshness. However, having said that Eminence Organics Product Support Team Lead Alicia Hawthorne tells us: “Using a chilled eye cream can help with puffiness and encourage circulation.” Just remember that consistency is key - if you choose to keep your skin care products in the fridge, allow some buffer time before toting them on a tropical vacation.
- Use cleans hands or spatulas – our hands can look clean but still have bacteria, dirt or impurities on them so it is very important to make sure your hands are clean when applying your skincare products. Not only do you want to avoid the transference of unwelcome bacteria onto your skin but you also want to avoid contaminating your products with any unwanted germs.
- Avoid hoarding and don’t stock up – although it can be tempting to purchase lots of products, especially if there is a sale, this may not be the best thing in the long run. Products that don’t get used up within their best before dates run the risk of going off before they have even been opened. Products you use daily will most likely run out way before they expire so you could stock up a little on those, but the products you use weekly or monthly are best purchased as and when you need them.
Know When Your Products Aren’t What They Used To Be!
Because organic products are made from fresh botanical active ingredients, they will eventually lose their potency and freshness. Eminence recommends your products are best before approx. 18 months and have a best before expiry date on them when you purchase them. After this time, they will start to degrade and lose their efficacy, recognising when they have gone too far is easy:
- The ingredients start to separate when they haven’t before
- The smell will change from delicious to funky!
- The texture may change, it may become lumpy or runny for example
- A dramatic change in the colour, if it was a gorgeous green and now looks brown for instance
Remember though natural and organic products with botanical ingredients can often alter in colour and texture from batch to batch, this doesn’t mean your products are stale, instead it could be where the ingredients were sourced from or the time of year they were harvested. Should you need advice on your products though, we would be delighted to help or contact your nearest Eminence salon or spa.
Information sourced from Eminence Organic Skincare -
Written by:
Alisha Whitley, September 27, 2019
You can also learn more about keeping your products fresh by speaking to a member of our experienced and friendly team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
