The shelf life of skin care products can vary anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on the amount and type of preservative used, the emulsion of the product and even the packaging it comes in. The expiration date on the packaging usually refers to how long the product is good for UNOPENED, so use these tips to determine whether or not it's safe to go ahead and slather on that night cream that's been hiding in the drawer. 5 signs a product is past its prime:
You can extend the shelf life and effectiveness of your skin care products by storing them tightly closed in a cool, dry place and, most importantly, using a CLEAN, DRY spatula to get the product out of the container each time.