Cosmetics
Makeup such as foundation, eye shadow and mascara can attract bacteria that cause irritation and infections, making it important to follow the ‘use by’ date.
Look closely on the packaging and you’ll see a jar icon with a number – this is the maximum number of months you can use the product once opened.
Tip: Make a note of the date you opened the product, so you know when to discard it. You should also store them in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Face washing lotion and moisturising creams
Just like makeup, these items display the jar/months icon, as bacterial nasties can move in after a certain period of time.
Antibacterial products
Products such as hand sanitiser, wipes and sprays have use-by dates. They won’t be dangerous to use once expired, they will just be less effective. Here are some alternative uses for expired hand sanitiser
Sunscreen
Using expired sunscreen won’t protect your skin properly, as the active ingredients won’t be active anymore! How to use sunscreen correctly
Household cleaning products
These products lose their oomph over time and can become less effective in killing germs, so make sure you replace them once the use-by date is passed.
Tip: start cleaning with vinegar – it doesn’t go off or lose its effectiveness!
