A dermatologist advises that you should replace skincare and makeup products more frequently than you believe—it's all about your overall health.

It is easy to use up many skincare and makeup products, but some such as moisturizers, mascara, and blush require more time to consume. It is crucial to remember expiration dates for these products.

Experts advise against using expired skincare and makeup products, even though they may be tempting to use due to their cost.

Dr. Michelle Henry, founder of Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan and clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, warns that using beauty products without knowing their expiration dates is not harmless.

According to Henry, using expired beauty products could lead to dry or irritated skin due to changes in concentration.

"This is delicate skin, and if the product is compromised in any way, you can get an infection," she warns.

Placing items close to our eyes and mouths, where there is more mucosa to absorb them, increases the risk of infection. Therefore, it is essential to consider our overall health and safety.

According to Henry, it is typically recommended to replace your essential beauty products.

Here’s how often you should replace skincare, makeup products

Always check the expiration dates on product containers, as not all products of the same type have the same formula. They are usually labeled as six months or one year, starting from the date you open the product.

Henry recommends labeling your products with the date of their first use, as she explains that unopened items have a longer shelf life. Most products are designed to last at least two years when they remain unopened.

Cleansers and toners: 6 months to 1 year

"Water-based products are more likely to harbor bacteria and pose risks when used repeatedly, so it's recommended to discard cleansers after a year of opening them," Henry advises.

Henry states that toners, being more heavily water-based than cleansers, may require replacement every six months to a year.

Serums: 6 months to 1 year

Certain serums, such as antioxidants like vitamin C, may not be as stable and could require disposal sooner for efficacy reasons.

“Every time you open it, it’s getting oxygenated.”

Moisturizers and sunscreens: 6 months to 1 year

Henry advises replacing moisturizers every six months to a year, depending on their packaging.

By putting your finger into a pot, you increase the daily contact with bacteria, as stated by her.

Airless pumps in moisturizers are gaining popularity as they enhance the product's stability, preventing it from breaking down easily and reducing the likelihood of bacterial contamination from daily use.

Sunscreens are similar to moisturizers and should be replaced within six months to a year once opened. If you see it separate, it's time to get a new one, which can happen sooner than the expiration date because sunscreens break down from excess heat.

Foundations and concealers: 6 months to 1 year

Henry states that foundations and concealers follow the same rule of six months to one year, similar to creams with water content and preservatives that have a lifespan of that duration.

Mascara: 4 to 6 months

Henry advises replacing mascara every four to six months to prevent rashes and infections.

Lipsticks and lip glosses: 6 months to 1 year

"Lip gloss will be shorter than lipstick, as the formulations are sometimes more water-based," she explains.

Blush and powders: 2 years or longer

If you have a powder-based product, it typically has a longer shelf life, according to Henry. You can take comfort in knowing that if your blush or eyeshadow palette has been in use for less than two years, it's still in good condition.

Makeup brushes and beauty blenders

To maintain the quality of makeup brushes and beauty blenders, it is recommended to replace or clean and sterilize them at least weekly, even though they do not have expiration dates.

Rewritten sentence: Don't forget to clean your loofahs, Buf-Puf or other products that you use for applying skincare products.

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