Does lipstick have an expiration date and where is it indicated?

What do GOSTs say?

As for any product, product, mechanism, etc. There are production and transportation standards - GOSTs.

In this article you can learn how to decipher a product barcode.

Cosmetic products for lips are included in one category and, accordingly, have the same GOST numbers :

GOST R52342-2005;
GOST 31649-2012.

In this case, these mysterious numbers and letters indicate that in most cases, the shelf life of lipstick and lip gloss is set directly by the cosmetic company , based on the formula, composition and operating conditions.

How to choose chapstick

How to choose hygienic lipstick? After all, this is not only a cosmetic, but in some cases also a medicinal product, and therefore you need to approach the choice carefully. Before purchasing, you should follow some recommendations:

Seasonality accounting

When choosing a “winter” lipstick, it is better to pay attention to products with a dense texture and a high content of nourishing ingredients. In summer you should choose products with SPF filters

Lipstick should be selected depending on the specific purpose. If you need to nourish the skin of your lips, you should opt for colorless oil balms based on vitamins. If the product should perform not only protective, but also decorative functions, you need to choose different shades of colored lip balms. To solve various dermatological problems in the mouth area, lipsticks with special designations repair or treatment are suitable.

If doubts regarding the choice of lipsticks have not been dispelled, it is recommended to carefully study all varieties of this product:

With SPF filters. Suitable for use in spring and summer. In hot city conditions, SPF 20-25 is sufficient; when going to the beach, you should choose products with a high index.
Moisturizing. This product is usually labeled with the appropriate symbol. Moisturizing hygienic lipstick saturates the dermis with moisture, preventing it from drying out. Like the first version of lipsticks, it is relevant in the heat.
Nutritious. Eliminates dry skin, cracked irritation.
Tinted. Combines the properties of a care and decorative product. It not only moisturizes the surface of the lips, but also gives them a beautiful, soft tint.
Therapeutic. Helps prevent symptoms of herpes, eliminates painful cracks and sores in the lip area, and heals damage.

Secrets of choosing hygienic lipstick:

How long can it be stored sealed and opened?

Many consumers sometimes get lost and don’t understand where exactly they should look for the treasured numbers.

Typically, the deadlines are indicated on the image of an open jar drawn on the packaging of the cosmetic product.

Of course, shelf life depends on the manufacturing company, but there are also standard shelf life indicators.

These numbers will help you roughly understand when you should get rid of your favorite lipstick (times before/after opening the package are indicated):

classic sticks - 3 years/1 year;
lip gloss (liquid formula) - 36 months/8-14 months;
lipstick in pencil form - 36 months/1.5 years;
lip tints - 3 years/1 year;
lacquered lipsticks - 36 months/1 year;
balms and hygienic lipsticks - 36 months/1 year;
liquid matte lipsticks - 3 years/1.5 years.

Here you can find a list of products that cannot be returned without a valid reason.

The danger of expired products

Naturally, using expired products will not take your life, but it can significantly harm your health. An unsuitable product can cause an allergic reaction or cause an infection on the lips. An expired composition can cause cheilitis, a disease whose symptoms include severe cracks on the lips.

When any unusual reaction occurs when using cosmetics, you should immediately stop using the product. If the problem is not resolved, you should consult a doctor.

Every woman should be attentive and responsible not only to her lipstick, but also to other cosmetic products. The main thing is to adhere to the basic rules for choosing products, storing and using them correctly. Only in this case, the product will last a long time and will not cause any damage to your health.

Guarantees from famous cosmetic companies

Some cosmetic companies indicate their own shelf life for lipsticks (not surprising, since they, in fact, make them):

Avon (Avon) and Oriflame - 24 months;
Dior - 1.5 years from the date of manufacture;
Maybelline have a standard term of 3 years;
Most L'Oreal are 3 years;
Pupa - 2 years from the date of manufacture;
Nyx - 24 months.

According to most manufacturers, you should use up lipstick within 12 months.

Expiration date of lipstick from famous brands

When purchasing a product, you should not trust huge discounts on expensive products. There is a high probability that the price has been reduced due to the expiration of more than half of the shelf life.

Oriflame i Avon budget lip products can be used for up to three years.
Maybelline brand products are also stored for three years.
For Dior products, the period is not so long, it is only a year and a half.
Loreal produces cosmetics with a period of use of no more than three years.
Pupa products are stored for no more than two years from the date of manufacture.
Nyx products can be stored for 24 months.

In general, the duration of use of cosmetics from different manufacturers differs. Some are stored for up to three years, and there are others that cannot be used for more than one and a half or two years.

Storage rules

Standard storage of any type of lipstick is limited to room temperature and low humidity .

Naturally, a cosmetic product cannot be stored where there is direct sunlight or where there are heaters.

Applicators for liquid lipsticks or glosses cannot be used with other products, they cannot be washed or washed (detergents can adversely affect the formula, and residual water can ruin the product).

What influences it?

The shelf life of lipstick is determined by its composition. If the solid base contains castor oil, which is resistant to oxidation, then this period increases. The more safe antioxidants a product contains, the longer it lasts. The same functions are performed by preservatives.

The types of cosmetics also matter: lipsticks last longer compared to lip gloss. Unopened lipsticks have a longer shelf life. The application method, storage conditions, and compliance with hygiene rules are also taken into account.

How does the product behave over time?

Any contact means are obviously a breeding ground for germs . There is nothing scary or supernatural about this, especially if you follow hygiene measures.

But long-term storage of used lipstick will eventually lead to the fact that a huge number of microbes , which will be difficult to destroy.

At best, using such a product will lead to allergies, at worst - to herpes.

The product itself will oxidize , which will render it unusable. The pigment will fade, the consistency itself will lose its oiliness and creaminess, and an unpleasant odor will appear.

How to find out how much carcass is left. What determines the shelf life of mascara?

The expiration date of mascara is a very important requirement when using cosmetics. This accessory is very common and can be found in every woman’s makeup bag. In order for mascara to remain like new for a long time, you need to follow very simple rules regarding its storage and use.

Main characteristics

The expiration date of absolutely any product or product is always written by the manufacturer on the packaging or on the item itself. In the case of mascara, there are several options. The expiration date can be indicated in the following order:

Batch number, release date and time. For example, the shelf life is 12 months. It is from this date that the eligibility will be counted.
The batch number, date and time of release are indicated immediately taking into account the term of use of the product. In this case, there is no need to remember the date.
The batch number and production date may not be on the product at all, but there is a final date and year of expiration.

Before using mascara, be sure to check its expiration date to avoid unpleasant consequences in the future. Because the eyes are the most sensitive human organ. If the expiration date is coming to an end, and the mascara itself has not been opened, that is, no air has entered it, then in this case it can be used.

Each mascara has a marking that lets you know how long after opening it you can use this product.

This marking is indicated by a large letter “M”, and an open bottle is shown next to it.

The manufacturer almost always indicates a shelf life of 12 months in order to produce a large number of products, thereby insuring itself. In reality, after opening the product, the time of safe use will be 3-4 months (no more). For example, even on eyelashes, many bacteria accumulate, which subsequently enter mascara and then through it onto the mucous membrane of the eye.

If you use dry mascara in everyday makeup, then in reality its shelf life will be exactly six months. And do not look at the date indicated by the manufacturer.

In addition to the need to monitor the expiration date, you should also pay attention to the consistency of the product. If the mascara begins to crumble or has simply dried out, then you should not show miracles of ingenuity and dilute it with water or other means

Another sign of unsuitability is an unpleasant specific smell.

Knowing about all these nuances and following storage rules, you can significantly extend the life of a cosmetic product.

Practical recommendations

The recommendations included with the product are given not just to fill space on the packaging, but as an aid. How to store mascara correctly? The main thing is not to store it in the bathroom, where it is warm and humid. This is a perishable product, so for a long service life it requires a certain temperature regime. To prevent these cosmetics from deteriorating ahead of time, the ideal place to store them would be a chest of drawers or any place where direct sunlight does not reach.

The most common way to quickly deteriorate mascara is to repeatedly move the brush back and forth.

With each movement, a lot of air enters the tube, which leads to the product drying out before its expiration date. To prevent this annoying misunderstanding, it is enough to turn the brush in one direction or the other.

Another common mistake that many women make. Namely: product residues on the brush are often wiped off on the edge of the tube. These actions lead to the tube no longer closing properly and allowing air to pass through. Such negligence leads to rapid drying and premature expiration of the shelf life. After reading all the above requirements, you will know how to store mascara. Good luck!

Signs of delay

The appearance of a characteristic musty, old smell signals that it is time to throw out the lipstick.

The appearance of cosmetics may also indicate that it has deteriorated:

the stick has dried out , cracked or, on the contrary, has started to leak;
pigment clumps , white coating or drops of liquid appeared on the surface of the product.

From this article you will learn how much time a consumer has to return goods to the store.