It often happens that, having opened her box with decorative cosmetics, a woman finds shadows, mascara or powder, which she has not used for a long time, but she did not throw away because the product could be useful in the future. And now this moment has come - the "mineral" has been found, but the question arises whether it can be used, because several years have passed since the purchase?
For sure it will be superfluous to mention what harm to the skin can be caused by a missing foundation or lipstick - it is already clear that it is not the best idea to arrange an experiment on the effects of unsuitable chemicals on the face. Therefore, before you begin to use the found decorative means, you need to check the expiration date of cosmetics: sometimes it is useful to do and in the store, without departing from the counter, because unscrupulous or inattentive sellers who do not pay attention to the shelf life of the products can always be found.
Determine the expiration date of cosmetics by code
Checking the expiry date of cosmetics with the help of the code is complicated by the fact that different firms use not the same notation: for example, one can meet the writing of the month and the last digits of the year in the form of Roman designations, and it is not clear which of them is a year (in the first decades it is easy to get confused) even more often there is a cipher, which each company has its own. For example, in 2012, Mary Kay can be designated F, while in Guerlain N.
To list the ciphers of all cosmetic companies for at least the next 5 years is not possible, so let's give some rules that are common for all:
- If the cosmetic product has a digital encryption, then usually the first two digits indicate the year of release, the next two - a day, and the last - a month. After that, they identify batch numbers, international codes and so on.
- If there are no digital signs, then it is better to consult the seller - he is obliged to provide you with this information.
- A less convenient way of checking is to use the expiration date calculator. To do this, you need the Internet, because the essence of it is to enter on the manufacturer's website the form of the numbers indicated on the package, and then automatically displays information about the release date and the expiration date of the product. The disadvantage is that it is problematic when buying.
Shelf life of cosmetics for eyes
If the code is erased, then you need to rely on other data to help determine if the product has disappeared.
Shelf life of mascara. If there is no code, then you need to consider the smell and consistency of the carcass: it can not be used if it has a sharp odor or is not as viscous as before. Mascara after the opening is stored on average no more than six months. Liquid eyeliner is kept that less - about 4 months.
Shelf life of eye shadow. When compact shadows easily scatter (if previously it was not observed), the color and smell changed, it means that they can not be applied for ever. Usually the shelf life of such cosmetics is 2 to 3 years.
How to determine the expiration date of corrective cosmetics?
Shelf life of foundation. Liquid foundation is usually stored for about a year, and its subspecies cream powder for a little longer retains its quality - up to 3 years.
Shelf life of powder. Powder, like shadows, can be considered a longevity among decorative cosmetics, after all, the simpler the composition, the longer the product retains its properties: thus, powder, mainly consisting of talc and pigment, can serve for about 3 years.
Decoding of the shelf life of lip cosmetics
Shelf life of lipstick. Lipstick on average is stored no more than one and a half years, as well as lip gloss. At the heart of lipstick are often found oils and fats, which, after spoiling, exude an unpleasant smell, so the risk of using an expired lipstick is very small.