Health experts have warned against using expired skincare products due to their dangerous effects. Recently, a TikTok video went viral, garnering 31.6 million views and 1.9 million likes, showing the painful reaction experienced by a woman after using expired skincare products and incorrect aftercare, according to a report by Wales Online. One comment under the post stated: "Anytime you use a product after its expiration date, you risk the degradation of chemicals and bacteria growth." Suzie Ma, CEO and founder of Tropic Skincare, explained that the most obvious drawback of using expired skincare products is that they may not be as effective as new products. Therefore, if you apply an expired face cream, you might not receive the same moisturizing or anti-aging benefits you would get from a new cream.
She added that in fact, expired face products can cause skin irritation, breakouts, and long-term skin problems. She also explained that there are certain rules to consider when using skincare products. A TikTok user shared that she used a steamer after applying an expired product because she thought it would help, but this actually led to a bacterial infection and more irritation.
Suzie provided her expert advice on how to identify if skincare products have expired. She said: "First, check the packaging for the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol. This symbol indicates the product's shelf life after opening, which typically ranges from 6 to 24 months. If the product does not have this symbol, you can try checking the ingredients list for a 'use by' or expiration date."
She added that another way to determine if your skincare products are expired is to pay attention to their appearance and texture; they may have an odd smell, or a change in color or consistency, or the ingredients may have separated. Additionally, how skincare products are stored can also affect their quality, so they should be kept in a cool, dark place.
