Cleaning Out Your Skincare? Here Are 3 Things You Need To Look Out For

I don't know about you, but I tend to clean when I'm procrastinating -- which has only been made worse by the fact that we're now stuck in lockdown. If, like me, you've already cleaned the kitchen cupboard (twice), averaged about three walks a day and have organised (and then reorganised) your wardrobe. You've now found yourself making a beeline for the occupants of your bathroom cabinet. 

Now, we both know it's highly likely we'll find ourselves wasting the day, finding products we haven't used in months, testing them and vowing to use them before they expire. But we also both know that'll it's probably best we part ways with some of them. 

So to help with that, our highly skilled therapists at SELF by The Parlour Room have given us three things to look out for when deciding if your skincare products are a) worthy of another 12 months of collecting dust on your top shelf or b) destined for the bin.

3 Things To Check When Cleaning Out Your Skincare Cupboard

1. Look out for the open jar symbol

An easy first step, there's a little known symbol you'll find on the back of your cosmetic products that indicates the expected shelf life once it's opened. Most of these average around the 12-month mark, so think back, where were you this time last year? Then, think back to when you actually purchase said product. If it's longer than this, then generally, it's time to throw it out. 

2. Check to see if it's oxidised

Once a product has been opened, the exposure to air causes a natural chemical reaction called oxidising to slowly occur. Depending on the particular product, the time it takes for it to oxidise will vary. A typical tell-tale sign of when this reaction has started to take place is discolouration. Where you'll notice the cream or serum has started to turn more of a brown colour. While it's not something you can avoid, you can help prolong its shelf life by securely fastening the lids on all your products.

3. How does it smell?

Finally, as with most things, if it smells off, then it probably is off. 

Sadly not all things are made to last, including your skincare. If you're using your products regularly, then they shouldn't expire before you've been able to finish them. But sometimes we don't get around to it using them, or we've got them on rotation and perhaps haven't been showing them as much love as we should, and they go off. Sad, but true. 

So now that you've cleaned out your skincare, what's next? A TPR approved facial at home (destined for glowing skin), or will you move onto cleaning out that makeup draw that you can't seem to find anything in anymore?