The dangers of using expired cosmetics Expired cosmetics are too harmful to the skin

Do you know the dangers of using expired skin care products? Using expired skin care products can be very harmful. If you don’t know this yet, come and learn about it with me.

The dangers of using expired cosmetics

For many girls, there are a lot of cosmetics at home. Beauty and skin care experts remind you that cosmetics have a shelf life. If you use expired cosmetics, your skin may develop blackheads and acne. What kind of harm can expired cosmetics cause to the skin? The following article will tell you in detail the dangers of expired cosmetics, so that you know that you must pay attention to the shelf life when choosing beauty tools.

What does "expired" mean?

Microbial contamination needs the most attention

"When we talk about beauty products, whether from the perspective of safety, effectiveness or comfort of use, we emphasize the importance of using them within the shelf life. Cosmetics that have exceeded their shelf life may harm the skin, and the main reason is microbial contamination," said an expert.

Experts say that the shelf life of creams and lotions is generally two to three years. Oil and water separation is likely to occur after expiration. In addition to the effect of surface tension, incorrect amount of emulsifier added can also cause early oil-water separation; insufficient amount of preservatives can cause microbial contamination, which can also cause oil-water separation during the shelf life. But consumers generally cannot tell the difference, so they should immediately discard cosmetics that have oil- and water-separated components.

Potential hazards

May cause acne and pimples

"The more important reason is the substandard hygiene caused by microbial contamination." Experts said that cosmetics, including soaps, shampoos, etc., have some nutrients added. They are not just simple cleaning products. Nutrients can also breed microorganisms. Manufacturers will add limited amounts of synthetic chemical preservatives during production to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. If the shelf life is exceeded, the effectiveness of the preservatives gradually disappears, and the growth of pathogenic microorganisms cannot be controlled, which will cause harm to the skin. You may develop acne and skin trauma may cause suppuration and infection. Especially severe for sensitive skin.

In terms of effectiveness, cosmetics often contain some biologically active ingredients. After being exposed to the air for a long time, high temperature, light and sunlight, chemical changes may occur, resulting in some by-products or the active ingredients being volatilized. Beauty expert Qiu Ming said that the active ingredients and nutrients will gradually degrade during use, which will cause potential harm to the skin. From the perspective of comfort, if the moisture and fit of the cosmetics applied to the skin change, the effectiveness of the cosmetics will be greatly reduced or lost.

Safe use

Buy after you use it up, don't stock up

Experts say that high ambient temperature, sunlight and ultraviolet rays can all cause the life of cosmetics to be shortened. When purchasing cosmetics, consumers must check the product expiration date label and try to use up the products before purchasing, and do not stockpile. Unused cosmetics should be stored in a low-temperature, enclosed space such as the refrigerator. Do not open the box frequently to prevent the temperature from fluctuating and causing chemical instability in the product.

Make sure your hands are clean when using cosmetics. Some cosmetics are packaged with pumps to minimize oxidation after contact with air. Some are equipped with scoops to prevent hands from coming into contact with the cream.

Don’t use sunscreen from the previous year

Experts say that cosmetics can be judged by looking and smelling whether they can continue to be used. The smell of spoiled products will be different, such as perfume becoming lighter, sour, and having an odor; foundation hardening, changing color, drying up, etc., all of which prove that it has deteriorated and should no longer be used. "We encourage people to use up the cosmetics they buy as soon as possible. For example, we recommend that you buy, open and use up sunscreen in the same year. Sunscreen used the previous year will oxidize when exposed to air, reducing its sun protection function. If you feel like you can't finish it all, you can choose a small 30 ml package."

Lipstick is often wiped off with wet wipes

Experts recommend that you wash your powder puffs regularly, and when using lipstick, make sure your lip skin is clean. Her experience is that after using the lipstick for a period of time, wipe it with a wet tissue to clean the part exposed to the air, and discard lipstick that has exceeded its shelf life.

It can be seen that expired cosmetics can cause great damage to the skin, even irreversible. Therefore, when choosing cosmetics, we must pay attention to its shelf life. If you already have expired cosmetics at home, dispose of them promptly and do not use them again. The shelf life of each cosmetic is different. You should pay attention to this when choosing. Only when used correctly can you achieve good makeup effects.