Latest news with #expiration
CNET
3 days ago
- Health
- CNET
What Expired Makeup Is Really Doing to Your Eyes and Skin
At least once a year, I sift through my bathroom drawers and cabinets, sorting through the clutter of half-used beauty and hair products. Without fail, I uncover long-forgotten items -- Urban Decay palettes, lipsticks in every imaginable shade and more. That's when the inevitable question hits me: "Is this expired?" A simple cleanout turns into a deep dive on the shelf life of makeup. Yes, makeup does expire. Most products expire much faster than I expected, making me realize I'd been using them well past their prime. I'm not alone, though. According to one study, nearly 98% of participants said that they've worn makeup past its expiration date. It's hard to throw away your favorite lipstick or an eyeshadow palette that still looks like it's in great shape, especially considering how expensive some brands are. However, using products past their expiration date comes with health risks, including increased chances of eye and skin irritation, bacterial growth and possible infection. It's important to practice good makeup hygiene to avoid complications or reactions. Here's a breakdown of when different cosmetic products expire and what can happen if you continue using them past that date. Read More: 10 Easy Ways You Can Boost Your Eye Health Every Day When does makeup expire? There's a common misconception that makeup is safe to use past its expiration date, but that isn't always the case. The potential of breakouts, skin reactions and infection is too high to ignore, so it's important to be mindful of how long your makeup has been open to avoid health hazards. Powder products and water-based products have different shelf lives. Powders, like blush or bronzer, are safe to use for up to two years if properly stored and free of any moisture. Water-based makeup products, like liquid foundation, are very susceptible to bacterial growth, giving them a shorter shelf life of up to one year. In general, makeup products last about one year from the date of manufacture before expiring, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, there are variations. Below is a breakdown of how long makeup lasts and when to toss it. Eye makeup CNET Here's the typical shelf life for eye makeup and products: Mascara: Three months Liquid eyeliner: One to three months Pencil eyeliner: One to three months Powder eyeshadow: Two years Cream eyeshadow: One year Skin makeup Here's the usual lifespan for skin cosmetics: Liquid foundation: Six months to one year Powder and stick concealer: Two years Liquid concealer: One year Face powder: Two years Powder blush: Two Years Cream blush: One year Moisturizer: Six months to one year Sunscreen: Six months to one year Primer: One to two years Other makeup and cosmetic products With so many products applied to or near your skin, it's crucial to know when they should be thrown out. Lipstick: One to two years Lip gloss: Six months to one year Lip liner: Two years Nail polish: Opened nail polish can last two years and unopened can last for over five years These are just general rules of thumb, as many products can expire faster if not properly stored or if they're exposed to moisture. It's best to discard any products that have changed color, dried out, cracked, separated, clumped, thickened or developed a strange odor. How to find expiration dates on products Cosmetics are not required to have expiration dates printed on labels in the US. The good news is that many products do anyway. To find them, first examine the label and see if you can find an open jar icon -- known as the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol -- which will have a number printed inside it. This icon determines the shelf life of the product. For instance, if there's a 12 printed within the jar icon, the product is safe to use for a year after you've opened it. If there's a 24, the makeup is good for up to two years after opening. If you don't see a PAO symbol, you can use the above recommendations to determine how long you can use the product before it expires. The PAO symbol will tell you how long you can safely use a product after opening. Macy Meyer/CNET Risks of using expired makeup Using expired makeup can result in various health issues and adverse reactions, including: Skin irritation: Expired makeup may contain rancid ingredients that can trigger skin redness or irritation. Breakouts: Bacteria that contaminate makeup, especially water-based products, can swiftly multiply, contributing to skin breakouts and acne. Skin infections: Over time, makeup can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms, potentially leading to infections. Eye infections: Bacteria from expired makeup or unclean eye makeup brushes can get in the eyes, causing infections. Contact dermatitis: Changes in the chemical composition of expired makeup can result in contact dermatitis, producing red, itchy, scaly or swollen patches on the skin. Chemical burns: In extremely rare cases, expired makeup may cause chemical burns. Expired makeup can cause skin irritation and acne. Boy_Anupong/Getty Images How to practice good makeup hygiene With good hygiene and habits, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of being exposed to bacteria, infection or adverse skin and eye reactions. Here are some additional tips to keep your eyes and skin healthy when applying makeup and cosmetic products. Always throw out old makeup. Clean your makeup brushes every three to seven days. Clean your Beautyblender or makeup sponges at least once a week and replace them every three months. Wash your hands before applying makeup to minimize exposure to bacteria. Properly store your makeup. Cosmetics break down faster when exposed to heat and moisture, so it's best to store products in a cool, dark and dry location. If a product irritates your eyes or skin, stop using it immediately. Don't use non-eye makeup around your eyes. You might have seen people using lip liner as eyeliner, but this could introduce bacteria from your mouth to your eyes, so it's best to avoid this practice. Remove makeup and wash your face thoroughly before bed. Sleeping with makeup on can clog pores, cause breakouts and worsen any existing skin conditions. If you don't cleanse your eyes and eyelids, you could even end up with eyelid dermatitis or a sty, according to Everyday Health. For more, explore these 10 sunscreen myths to stop believing and whether tretinoin or retinol is best for your skin.
CNA
23-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Groups providing "rescued" food say demand is rising
Groups that provide free food that is nearing expiration or mildly defective say demand is rising. At least one says it has seen an increase of about 15 per cent. Another plans to expand its distribution points to more than 60 by the end of this year, from the current 51. It says this is to help more lower-income families with the rising cost of living. Kate Low has more. Groups that provide free food that is nearing expiration or mildly defective say demand is rising. At least one says it has seen an increase of about 15 per cent. Another plans to expand its distribution points to more than 60 by the end of this year, from the current 51. It says this is to help more lower-income families with the rising cost of living. Kate Low has more.
CNET
01-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
Should You Throw Out Expired Vitamins? Why That Date Might Not Matter as Much as You Think
Who hasn't been digging through a medicine cabinet only to find that their vitamins and other supplements have passed their expiration dates. It happens. Your gut reaction is to chuck them in the trash. After all, we do the same for food after we see that it's out of date, so why not supplements? The reality is that vitamins don't necessarily "go bad" the same way that food does. In fact, understanding what that date on the label actually means is a bit more complicated. In this guide we'll break down what happens to supplements over time and whether you should use them after the date on the bottle passes. Do vitamins expire? Your vitamin bottles most likely have a date on them, but that's not technically an expiration date. That's because your vitamins don't expire in the way that you may think. Because vitamins don't become unsafe when they "expire," the Food and Drug Administration doesn't even require a date to be put on the bottles. Most manufacturers still do, though, because there is a point when vitamins lose potency. This means that your vitamins and minerals may not be providing the full nutritional value you expect if they're past their shelf life. Depending on your vitamins and supplements and what form they're in, they lose potency at different rates. Tablets and capsules tend to stay potent for longer than something like a chewable gummy vitamin. The best way to store your vitamins is in a cool, dry place. Two of the worst places -- and two of the most common -- are in the bathroom and the kitchen. Both of these rooms run warm and damp, which can make your vitamins break down faster. Putting your vitamins in a closet or in a spot in your bedroom that's not getting direct sunlight can help prolong their potency. How expired is 'too expired' for vitamins? Ayrat Gabdrakhmanov/iStock/Getty Images Though vitamins won't expire and become unsafe, they will lose potency, which means they're not doing you any good. Manufacturers put the dates on the bottle that signifies when the vitamins hit that point, so if you're past the "best by" date on a bottle, go ahead and toss them because, while they won't make you sick, they also won't help you. Though it's not common, vitamins can become moldy or smelly, especially if they're not stored properly. If your vitamins are in this condition, throw them out immediately and get a new bottle. This is a situation where your vitamins can be unsafe to consume because of whatever contamination is happening with them. There are currently no documented cases of "expired" vitamins becoming toxic or dangerous to people. Expired vitamins are really just a waste of time and not much else. How long can you use vitamins after expiration date? Although taking vitamins past their expiration date is OK, it will depend on how well you've stored them and if they have been opened. Other factors to consider are the type of vitamin and what it's made of. For example, vitamins in gummy form tend to degrade faster than those in tablet or capsule form because they are more prone to absorbing moisture. A good rule of thumb is that if mold is present, the smell is off or the consistency has changed, throw it out. How to dispose of expired vitamins After you've determined your vitamins are past the point of no return, it's important to get rid of them safely. Simply throwing them in the trash can be a risk, because children or even pets could end up getting a hold of them. And while you might be tempted to flush them down the toilet, that's not a good idea because old vitamins can still potentially contaminate the water. The FDA recommends dumping the vitamins out of the bottle and into a plastic bag and mixing them with an "undesirable substance" like coffee grounds or cat litter. Seal the mixture in the bag and put that bag into your trash. You can also take your vitamins to a drug take-back center in your community if you have one. While these are more commonly used for prescription drugs, you can also dispose of your vitamins so they can be handled safely. The bottomWhile your vitamins won't technically expire, they will become useless after a period of time. Pay attention to the dates the manufacturers put on bottles so you know when your vitamins and supplements will stop working for you. As long as you're storing them properly, they will last as long as they're meant to -- and contribute to your overall health.
