Skin Care Product Expiration

Skin care products can be expensive. People love to have them but hate to buy them – and that’s exactly why it’s easy to talk yourself into keeping that $50 bottle of moisturizer you bought three years ago that’s only half-empty. Although you may be saving money, you might be doing a disservice to your skin. Here is a brief guide on when to keep and when to toss your skin care products:

Makeup

Eyes

Of all your cosmetics, your eye makeup probably has the shortest shelf life. There isn’t a good way to clean the majority of the applicators you use, so it’s easy for bacteria to grow quickly and abundantly. You should throw away your mascara every one to three months. If it’s dry and clumpy, it’s well past its expiration. When it comes to liners, pencils can last up to a year if they’re the type that can be regularly sharpened, but gel and liquid liners should be thrown away every couple of months. Cream eye shadows can last up to a year, and powder eye shadow is good for up to two years. 

Lips

Lipstick will begin to dry out after about two years, and that’s your sign to toss it. Lip gloss, on the other hand, will start becoming extra sticky when it’s reached its expiration, and that usually happens after one year. 

Face

Powders and blushes tend to last up to two years. Powders will start to become flaky and dry when it’s time to toss them. Liquid foundation can last anywhere from six months to a year. When your foundation starts to lighten and separate into layers, that’s when you’ll know it’s time for it to go.

Cleansers

Face

Facial cleansers can last up to six months. If your cleanser includes benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, it’s important to note that they decay quickly and no longer work as they should after about four to six months. Glycolic peels and acne treatment pads will begin to dry out after two months and should be thrown out once that happens.

Body

Body washes can last for two to three years. If you notice a change in consistency, smell or color, stop using the product.

Moisturizers

Face

One year is a safe bet for most moisturizers. Although products that don’t contain anti-aging properties may last longer, the bacteria that accumulates in the jar causes your moisturizer’s shelf life to decline dramatically.

Body

Body lotions can last from two to three years. If you notice a change in smell, color or consistency, it’s time to replace it.

Sunscreen

As mentioned in a previous post, sunscreen is effective for up to three years after its purchase date. To ensure shelf life longevity, it’s important to store your sunscreen in a cool or room-temperature environment.

Do you have any product expirations that weren’t addressed in this post? Leave them in the comments below, and I’ll try to help you out!

Quick Fixes for a Wedding Day Skin Dilemma

Planning your dream wedding can be very rewarding, yet extremely stressful. High levels of stress and other factors can lead to surprise breakouts in the days leading up to your wedding and even the morning of your big day. But have no fear! We’ve come up with some great preventive tips and emergency fixes that will help you get that bridal glow before you say “I do!”

Preventive Actions:

• Don’t change your normal skin care routine. New products have the potential to cause skin irritation, so it’s best to stick with what your skin is already used to. If you don’t already have a regular skin care regimen, start one at least two months before your wedding day. 
• Always remove your makeup at night. This should happen during your regular skin care routine, but nerves and stress could cause you to forget the night before your wedding. Make sure this is on your to-do list! Not removing your makeup at night could lead to breakouts caused by clogged pores and excess oils. Additionally, makeup left overnight can cause swelling and redness, which are two things you definitely want to avoid on your big day. 
• Hydrate! Drink plenty of water to keep your skin moisturized and fresh. Hydrating will not only boost your skin’s appearance, but also your mood!
• See a skin care specialist. At Advanced Dermatology’s medi spa, we offer oxygen facials and other services that can ensure that your skin looks flawless.

Quick Fixes:

• For a quick and safe fix, apply benzoyl peroxide gel on the inflamed spot. Benzoyl peroxide is commonly found in over-the-counter acne treatments. In a gel form, it can be an effective way to spot-treat a surprise breakout. 
• Try using a few home remedy solutions if you don’t have time to run to a store. Crushed aspirin with a few drops of water will help with problem spot redness and inflammation. Honey is another home remedy that is a natural antiseptic. Both can be used as spot treatments the night before or morning of your wedding. Don’t expect them to immediately make the pimple disappear, but they can help reduce the size and redness enough to cover with makeup.
• Don’t touch it! The old adage “it’ll only make it worse” is true. Although tempting, try to avoid touching the area completely. Bacteria from your hands can spread to other pores on your skin and can also cause more inflammation around the already irritated area.

Have any questions about quick-fix treatments I didn’t mention? Leave them in the comments, and I’ll try to answer them. 

Common Infant Skin Conditions and How to Deal

Entering into the world of parenthood can be an overwhelming venture. The number of things you have to remember and take care of can seem vast, but when it comes to skin problems on your little one, we’re here to help. In this blog we’ll share a few common skin conditions that most infants experience and what to do about them.

Common Infant Skin Conditions:

Intertrigo

Occurs most often in babies younger than six months old

What is it?

Intertrigo is an irritant dermatitis that often surfaces as a red, raw and sometimes oozing rash that is found in babies’ skin folds, primarily in their chin and neck areas. It is caused by excessive moisture (normally from excessive drool or spit-up) that has collected in your baby’s skin creases that are not directly exposed to air. This rash can lead to bacterial and fungal infections and should be monitored regularly.

What are the treatments?

We recommend keeping the area as dry as possible by blotting the rash. Never rub it! Using a hair dryer on the low setting with cool air is another way to air-dry the irritated spot. We do not recommend applying ointments, which can lock in moisture and encourage the development of a bacterial infection.

Cradle Cap

Occurs most often in babies younger than six months old

What is it?

Cradle cap, known in the medical world as infantile seborrheic dermatitis, is a rash that can appear on your child’s scalp and eyebrows. It can also appear behind the ears or on the neck, cheeks and chest. Cradle cap is often compared to dandruff due to the rash’s dry, flaky nature. The cause of the dandruff is unknown, and it doesn’t normally cause discomfort to infants.

What are the treatments?

Cradle cap often goes away on its own. If your child is experiencing a more severe case, try washing the scalp with baby shampoo once a day. Make sure that all the shampoo is rinsed off of the baby’s scalp to prevent more drying of the skin. 

Eczema

Begins to show in babies older than six months old

What is it?

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that appears in dry, itchy patches on your baby’s skin. In some babies, the rash can also appear red and weepy. Some infants experience mild eczema and others have more serious cases, but it’s rarely dangerous, as 20 percent of all babies will experience some form eczema. It is most common in children with a family history of eczema. In infants, eczema most often appears on the cheeks, forehead and scalp, as well as on the elbows and knees, the body parts most commonly used in crawling.

What are the treatments?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for eczema, but there are ways to ease your child’s discomfort. We recommend a short, warm bath with unscented soap. You should also moisturize your child’s skin two times daily with a cream or ointment to help seal in moisture. Other treatments, like steroid ointments, are available for older children, but they are not ideal for infants.

Contact Dermatitis

Occurs in infants of all ages

What is it?

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin becomes irritated by something it has come in contact with. Grass, jewelry, soaps and detergents are a few common culprits. The rash can be red and mild or it can be harsh, forming large oozing bumps. In infants, the rash is most often caused by drool or wet or soiled diapers.

What are the treatments?

The rash will normally disappear after a few weeks, but it can also be treated with common ointments used to treat diaper rash, like A&D cream.

If you have any questions about any of these skin conditions, click here to visit our website or call 901-759-2322.