We often get asked about how long products will last for, when they expire, or what exactly the numbers and letters on their products mean.
Currently Health Canada does not require that expiry dates be put on the cosmetic label. Most professional products will have some sort of marker on them though.
Here are a couple of things you can look for:
Open Jar or Period-After opening Symbol: This is becoming more and more common as it’s the standard in Europe. This indicates how many months the product can be safely used for after opening. This is based on the assumption that people are making practical decisions in storage and hygiene: product is kept tightly closed, away from light and heat, and hands are washed before it’s used.
20091231: Year/Month/Day, or something to this extent. It’s pretty straight forward in that it’s a date somewhere in the near future.
Codes: These will usually be a combination of letters and numbers that almost look like dates. They are usually individual to that particular line and are difficult to decipher on your own. It’s best to contact the company. The letters can represent months (A=January, B=February etc.) and the numbers may represent years (1=2000, 2=2001 etc) but it can vary. If you are purchasing from an authorized dealer it is highly unlikely that the product is expired or close to. But it doesn’t hurt to check.
The expiry dates refer to when the product will stop being as effective, but if there’s a color, smell or texture change before that date, it’s probably best to discontinue use. Sticking unclean hands into containers or leaving them open will expose them to bacteria and humidity. That can cause them to go bad faster and they could irritate your skin.
Basic guideline:
-Skin Care: 1-2 years depending on the products. If you are using the products properly, most should last you no longer than 8 months.
-Natural/Organic products: lack of preservatives means these last the least amount of time and are most prone to bacteria growth. 6 months tops and try to keep hands and water completely out of them
-Mascara: wet and near the eyeballs. 3 months. Do not compromise on this one. Replace every three months or earlier if you start to experience any eye irritation. Don’t share! Be greedy and territorial. I am terrible and do not follow this rule, despite my “no compromise” comment.
-Liquid Eyeliner: 3-6 months. Similar to mascara but these are less likely to touch the actual eye.
-Liquid Concealers and Foundations: 6-12 months. These can oxidize when exposed to air. The same reason your foundation may look different at the end of the day. Keep those lids tight!
-Cream shadows and blushes: 6- 12 months again. These usually involve more finger proddings and blendings. Make sure your hands are clean, or apply with a clean makeup brush.
-Lipstick: 12 months. Heat and moisture have a big effect on these.
-Powders (foundation, blush and eye shadow): 1-2 years. If kept dry and clean these are your longest lasting products. Mineral makeups have a good long shelf life as they are made of rocks/minerals and can’t really harbor bacteria. However if they have additional ingredients like anti-oxidants or anything anti-inflammatory they do become less effective over time.
-Eye and lip pencils: 2 years
These time frames differ depending on the expert or on the specific line. But it’s always best to use common sense.
There are so many suggestions and rules when it comes to what’s safe during pregnancy.
Some ingredients are blacklisted on some lists, and completely ignored on others.
The reason for that is no pregnant women is likely to say “Yes please test these ingredients on me and my unborn fetus to prove that they are safe”. As a result a general caution is applied to most active ingredients even if there is no actual data.
Then you get those that say natural is the way to go, the only problem being that essential oils are mostly contraindicated for pregnancy as well. Not all of them, but most of them. It still leaves most botanicals as viable options, but if we’re talking strictly acne, there’s not a whole lot those can do for it.
So what’s a girl to do?
First off, always talk to your doctor. They should know the most current research or at least know where to point you.
There’s a lot of scare tactics out there today, so it’s important to really take a look at the actual research and decide with your doctor what you are comfortable using.
These are some of the ingredients that commonly come up:
Accutane: This one is absolute not to be used during pregnancy. No questions. There are lots of studies showing links between it’s usage and birth defects
Retinol: A vitamin A derivative like Accutane, this is topically applied. Usually used as aggressive anti-wrinkle or anti-acne treatments, they should be avoided during pregnancy.
Benzoyl Peroxide: Some say usage has caused birth defects in animals, some say there’s absolutely no research indicating so. Either way, if and when it’s used it should be nothing more than spot treatment so it would be used in teeny, tiny amounts. This one is up to you and your doctor.
Salicylic Acid: If and when it ends up on the No List it’s because of it’s association with aspirin. The concern is if a lot is applied topically it could be absorbed and amount to the same thing as internally ingesting an aspirin. However this ingredient can be found in face washes, which means you would get the oil dissolving qualities and it wouldn’t be left on the skin. Like benzoyl peroxide, discuss with your doctor.
Essential Oils: There are many that should not be used during pregnancy and a few that are okay. Make sure you really trust your source, maybe use a few different ones to confirm it. Tea Tree oil is one that is to be avoided.
AHAs: These are effective exfoliants that seem to be safe and may be the best option for those that are experiencing breakouts. As with anything else, consult your doctor. Also remember that these make the skin more sun sensitive and require a sunscreen for daily use.
Here are a few different resources for you to take a look at.
The Beauty Brains: Everything they do is based off of the most up to date peer-reviewed research. So they are are great resource for those that like science based reviews.
Paula Begouin, Cosmetics Cop: Most estheticians don’t like her because she critically looks at ingredients and judges the product based entirely on that and not necessarily HOW the product uses those ingredients. But the woman knows her ingredients. She’s a great resource for any skin care enthusiast.
Skin Care and Beauty: This is a very thorough article about pregnancy and skin care. She has some great information.
There will always be multiple opinions on this, so it’s best to inform yourself and make the decisions with your doctor.
We spend a lot of time focusing on the importance of proper skin care, but for most people they don’t think below the chin.
The problem is that your neck, chest and hands all get exposure to sun damage and environmental stresses as well.
Is there nothing we can do!?!?!?
Of course there is. It creates an opportunity for more products now doesn’t it?
Removing all cynicism, there is validity in either using the right products, or changing how you use your current products.
While this may not be a big deal right now, I assure you it will be a big deal when you start noticing the delightfully named “Turkey Neck” I often get questions about.
I’m not going to address the products for this as they can speak for themselves. This is more about the other, simpler steps you can take.
Make sure to extend all of your regular skin care downwards. Exfoliation and moisturizers at the very least should all be used on the neck and upper chest. This will create that cell turn over and support the skin structures that keep skin firm and young looking. Serums are up to you. They often come in smaller containers so you will go through them much quicker.
Sunscreen. So much sunscreen. Whenever you’re going to be out, make sure to slather it on, including the backs of your hands.
These will help to hydrate and protect the skin.
You can most definitely get specific products as well. Either way, this is an area that should not be ignored.
Have you found a throat/neck cream that’s made a difference for you?
We’re so proud to get to work with Spa Week.
We’ve put together a great prize pack worth around $600 that includes:
One of the last few available Jane Iredale Sweet 15 Kits:
Guinot gift pack with a beautiful sparkling clutch and a variety of Deluxe Travel size products
Dermalogica Body Duo Kit with the beautiful Body Wash and Body Lotion
I really encourage you to enter this contest. The way to enter is to post up your favorite beauty blog post of the last year. So not only does it give you a chance to win a fantastic prize pack, but we’re creating a resource of some of the greatest and most interesting beauty articles of 2009.
Enter at the Spa Week Blog Here:
http://bit.ly/6N9yjz
We’ve enthusiastically embraced the greatness that is social media. We have an active Facebook page, Twitter account and youtube channel. But it’s not always about us.
Here is a list of all the brands we carry that have made themselves more accessible to you. Look for deals, launches and contest on all of these pages.
Support the brands you love!
American Crew: Facebook
Aromatherapy Associates: Facebook
Bioethique : Facebook
B. Kamins: Facebook
Babyliss PRO: Facebook
Blinc Kiss Me Mascara: Facebook Twitter: @blinc
Decleor: Facebook
Dermalogica: Facebook Twitter: @dermalogicaCDN
FusionBeauty: Facebook Twitter: @Fusion_Beauty
Gehwol: Facebook Twitter: @gehwolusa
Guinot: Facebook
Jane Iredale: Facebook Twitter: @janeiredale
Joico: Facebook Twitter: @joico
MD Skincare: Facebook Twitter: @dgskincare
Phytomer: Facebook
Simply Organic: Facebook Twitter: @Simply_Organic
SpaRitual: Facebook
YonKa: Facebook Twitter: @YonKaUSA
Youngblood: Facebook Twitter: @ybcosmetics
Zoya: Facebook Twitter: @Zoya_NailPolish
Know of any more Spa Boutique brands that are out there? We’d love to know as well!
