You're organising your bathroom cabinet wrong! Expert reveals the surprising items you should never store in there
Most bathroom cabinets are a jumble of half-used shampoos, forgotten Christmas bath bombs and ancient first aid kits.
But there are a number of items you should never keep in this part of the house, according to an expert.
John Horner, Managing Director at luxury bathroom retailer 34 St John, warned extreme humidity and temperature changes in bathrooms lowers the shelf life of expensive products.
And millions of people currently keep them there without a second thought.
'Many people don't realise their bathroom is actually one of the worst places to store their expensive cosmetics,' he said.
'The constant moisture and temperature changes can break down active ingredients and even promote bacterial growth.'
His most urgent warning regards suncream, as storing it in your bathroom cabinets could leave users completely unprotected against harmful UV rays.
'Sunscreen molecules can become unstable when repeatedly exposed to heat and moisture cycles,' he said.
'This means your sun protection might not work as effectively, potentially leaving your skin vulnerable to UV damage.'
The expert stressed keeping SPF products in cooler, drier places, especially during months when they sit unused before being needed again.
'If your sunscreen changes colour, separates, or smells different, it's time to replace it immediately regardless of the expiration date,' he added.
It's also bad news for anyone who likes to display their favourite perfumes and aftershaves in the bathroom.
'Perfume bottles might look attractive on bathroom shelves, but the fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels cause the fragrance compounds to break down much faster,' Mr Horner explained.
Heat and moisture change the chemical makeup of perfumes, causing them to oxidise and smell completely different from what you originally bought.
'Store your fragrances in a cool, dark place like a bedroom drawer instead. This simple change can extend their life by several months or even years,' he added.
Meanwhile, products with natural ingredients and minimal preservatives face the highest risk from bathroom storage, with many becoming useless within weeks.
'Natural skincare products often contain fewer synthetic preservatives, making them more susceptible to bacterial contamination in humid environments,' Mr Horner said.
He suggested keeping these items in a bedroom drawer where temperature stays more stable and moisture levels remain much lower than typical bathroom conditions.
'Products with ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, and probiotics degrade quickly when exposed to moisture and heat,' he added.
'You're essentially throwing money away by keeping them in the bathroom.'
The final product he advises keeping out of the bathroom is makeup – especially powders and items without airtight seals.
'Makeup brushes and sponges stored in bathrooms become breeding grounds for bacteria, which you then transfer directly to your skin,' he explained. 'This can lead to breakouts and infections.'
The bathroom specialist advised creating a dedicated makeup area away from bathroom humidity, cleaning tools regularly and binning products past their expiration date.
'Most people don't realise that makeup has a much shorter shelf life when kept in bathrooms,' Mr Horner said.
Products containing vitamin C, like this Medik8 serum and Garnier brightening fluid, degrade quickly when exposed to moisture and heat
'Mascara, for example, should be replaced every three months, but even sooner if stored in humid conditions.'
Makeup manufacturers test products under perfect laboratory conditions, not the steamy environment found in typical home bathrooms where hot showers create tropical-like conditions several times daily, he said.
'The safety assessments conducted for cosmetic products assume they're stored properly,' he added.
'When you keep them in a bathroom, all bets are off for their effectiveness and safety over time.'
Tips include checking bathroom cabinet contents every few months, moving sensitive products to better locations and taking extra care with natural formulas that contain fewer preservatives.
How can I tell if my suncream has broken down?
'Sunscreen which is degrading may have a different texture – it could be runnier, lumpier, and split,' aesthetic doctor Ed Robinson told the Huffington Post.
'If the formula has changed consistency, it may also apply unevenly, leading to patchy protection,' he added.
A rancid smell or darker or yellowish colour usually means your sunscreen isn't as able to do its job as it should be, too.
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