Are you a beauty product hoarder? Is your medicine cabinet a chock full of mascara, foundations, moisturizers, and cleansers? In order for products to be effective, and yield the best results, it is important you know when its time to dump your old products, and move onto new ones.

Unfortunately, as with all things in life, skin care products do not last forever. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t last for a while. According to Repêchage Director of Research and Development, Dr. Alexander G. Hammer, “Skin care products should last for a minimum of 2 years.” With Repêchage products, the shelf life of any unopened products is about 3 years. Once any Repêchage product has been opened, the shelf life is 12 months. For your convenience and quality assurance, each Repêchage product is also labeled with an expiration date. If you find yourself holding onto skin care products past this time, the quality and the impact on your skin may not be the same. For best results, it is recommended you use products within their specified expiration time frame. Besides, if you are using your products as directed, it is likely you will have to refill every few months or so.

To increase the longevity of your products, there are several precautions you can take. For example, how you store your skincare products. When storing your cleansers, moisturizers, or masks, avoid putting these products in direct sunlight. Rather, try to store these products in a cooler atmosphere. Not only will where you put the products affect their life span, but also how you use them. To guard against bacteria and prevent contamination of your skin care products, avoid using your fingers when dipping into your favorite cream or moisturizer. Instead, try to use clean equipment, such as a spatula or small spoon. If you can’t break that habit, make sure your hands are squeaky clean before diving into your products or opt for products in tubes instead!  To prevent bacteria from entering, also make sure to always seal the jar, lid, or cap securely. As an extra tip, to remember when you purchased your product, label the product packaging or product itself. This way you’ll know when it’s time to restock! It gives you a good excuse for a little skin care shopping!

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