BEAUTY BUZZ: DO SKIN-CARE PRODUCTS EXPIRE?

Yes they do—your skin-care products will expire. Sometimes we think that just because our favorite products last in our vanity drawer we can pull them out after not using them for a while. Wrong! We seldom remember that some of the best products, like anti-aging creams, acne fixings and more are as delicate as a flower. Oxygen and heat render them to the point that they are useless—expiration dates apply here, beauty mavens!

So now what? The question remains: What should you do when they are no bueno anymore? We found some useful tips via Allure online when we found out they asked Amy Wechsler, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn on when to toss and keep. Check out Laser Away’s most interesting discoveries…

Peels & Masks

TOSS: Three months. At that point their buffering agents can start to evaporate, making active ingredients such as glycolic and fruit acids more potent (and irritating).

Retinoid Creams

TOSS: Nine to 11 months, when their collagen-producing power starts to conk out.

Moisturizing Creams

TOSS: One year. Though a plain moisturizer without anti-aging ingredients will last well past this mark, you can contaminate it by dipping repeatedly into the jar.

Grainy Scrubs

TOSS: Two years. These hearty exfoliants are made of virtually indestructible materials, but an open tub will still become a breeding ground for bacteria over time.

And last but not least, the products we should be using daily…

SUNSCREEN!

TOSS: One to two years—it varies, so check the expiration date on your tube. Wechsler suggests keeping sunscreen in a cooler when at the beach and trashing any tube that’s been left sitting in a hot car.