Looking Good while being Environmentally Friendly
We all love to shop for beauty products, but more than half the time we never finish the products we purchases.
We are too quick to move-on and try another product, throwing away products which frequently come in environmentally unfriendly plastic packages
To be honest this was a habit that I practiced and have recently changed – I have realized that looking good is consistent with being kind to the environment! Here are some of my personal and professional experiences that I want to share on why and when to move-on from old beauty products.
Shampoo and conditioner:
Generally you have 12 months after you open your shampoo or conditioner before it expires. However, when you use organic products like LeonorGery HairShmapoo they have less preservatives so they will naturally expire sooner…
Makeup and Fragrances:
Perfume/cologne: 2 years. As lovely as the bottles might look on the counter, store them away from sunlight and humidity.
Mascara & liquid eye liner: 3 months. Get a new one every season and toss even sooner if it’s dried out or if you’ve had an eye infection.
Liquid foundation and concealer: 6 months to 1 year.
Lipsticks and glosses: 2 to 3 years. If you’ve had a cold sore, be sure a toss your lip products once you recover.
Eye and lip pencils: 3 to 5 years. Make sure to sharpen before using – this will help to preserve them.
To help you keep track of all these dates, write on the label your purchase date and when to toss it. A product like Timestrip can save you the effort.
How you store your cosmetic products is even more important than these date guidelines, which are really just estimates. To make them last as long as possible, keep items away from heat, sunlight, humidity, and air. Look for pumps instead of jars, for example, and make sure your hands are clean before use so you don’t contaminate your products. The FDA states: “Consumers should be aware that expiration dates are simply “rules of thumb,” and that a product’s safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored – for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale – may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date.”
Deodorant/anti-perspirant: Usually 3 years but check the expiration date, if available. Outside Online notes that deodorant really doesn’t lose that much efficacy or run the risk of bacterial infection (because it is an anti-bacterial product after all).
Shaving creams and shaving soaps: 2 years or perhaps longer if stored properly.
Toothpaste: Check the expiration date, printed on toothpastes containing fluoride. It’s usually 2 years after manufacturing.
Mouthwash: 3 years from manufacture date, also usually printed on the bottle.
Soap: 3 years, according to manufacturers, for both bar and liquid soaps. Yes, even soap can expire, particularly if it contains essential oils. Some bars seem to last forever, though, can become cracked and dried up.
Tip: I recommend that you get the smaller size bottle so that you do not have to worry about expiration dates.
Tip: If possible, purchase products that come in a glass, not plastic package – glass does a much better job of keeping your product fresh, and our environment does not need anymore plastic!
Tip: Also purchase products that come in darker packages since they refract sunlight. Clear packages let the sun in which it accelerates the rate of product deterioration…
Wishing you a beautiful, eco-friendly and happy summer,
Love to you All,
Lily
