The idea of recycling your old makeup products may be tempting in an eco-friendly approach, but it’s not without risk. The dermatologist answers and helps to read the packaging.
It’s time for a makeover in TikTok, the Eldorado of new beauty trends. Users are finding that old eyeshadow palettes are no longer available for sale today and are trying to reclaim their favorite products from the past. Others are looking for ways to salvage shattered face powder or repair broken packaging. Witness the “Cosmetic Repair” viral thread that has more than 1.4 billion views on social media, featuring video tutorials to restore worn or damaged makeup to good condition. For example, adding glycerin to dry blush to make it more fluid. Or, adding a few drops of saline solution to the mascara tube to “thicken” the material.
The approach may seem ecological and economical at first glance, but it raises clear hygiene questions. “I don’t recommend making such a mixture,” Dr. Flora Fisher, dermatologist and author of the book, immediately objects. Dermatologist secrets (Laffont Publications). “Makeup is not only composed of pigments, it also contains active ingredients. Thus, formula can become a breeding ground for bacteria if it is not well preserved; so diluting its ingredients is not a good idea.” To embrace more eco-responsible consumption, the doctor suggests instead making your own makeup with special kits or choosing smaller sizes in stores.
After opening the validity period
Because, much to the chagrin of recycling enthusiasts, makeup products don’t last forever. Like food, they all have an expiration date on the packaging. If they have never been opened and are kept well closed, they can fit in our cupboards for a maximum of thirty months (two and a half years). This is the deadline when they fulfill their original function and maintain health safety requirements (1), but “it all depends on how you store them,” notes Dr. Fisher. does not exceed twenty degrees, the risks are limited.”
When this date is less than 30 months, it must be marked on the product. this is called the minimum durability date. It is preceded by the words “best till last” or the symbol representing the hourglass.
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Once started, makeup must respect the PAO expiration date (expires after opening) written on its container in the form of a small icon representing an open box. “Allow an average of 3 to six months for mascara, one to two years for lipstick, eyeliner, or eyeshadow, and six months to a year for foundation,” says the dermatologist, before reminding you that these are valid guidelines. only if care is taken to keep them in good condition.” Therefore, we will have to say goodbye to some palettes that have been sitting on our shelves for years and that we didn’t want to part with because of their sentimental value…
To detect signs
When you no longer know the exact day you first used a product, little clues let you know if it has expired. “For example, if your mascara has completely dried out, become thick and clumpy, and is no longer fluid enough, these are signs that it has been stored incorrectly or for too long,” explains Dr. Flora Fisher. In general, “if your cosmetics change in appearance or smell funny, if small deposits appear at the bottom of the liquid formula, if their foundation consistency changes, or if their color changes, it’s time to change them.”
side effect
Not only will their performance not be optimal (keeping, pigmentation, sensitivity, etc.), but in the worst case they can even cause unwanted consequences. “When the make-up product is stored poorly or is expired, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria,” warns the dermatologist. “They risk minor infections, irritation, eczema, allergies. They can even cause frostbite in the mouth and conjunctivitis or conjunctivitis on the eyes. In addition, the foundation becomes comedogenic, so it can cause acne breakouts,” explains the expert. Hence the importance of organizing your vanity.
Finally, the other elements of our makeup routine should not be neglected either: brushes and makeup sponges. Indeed, with daily application, “they can become veritable nests of bacteria,” says Dr. Fisher, who recommends “spraying with antiseptic after each use or cleaning them regularly with soap.”
(1) Source: Ministry of Health
Source: Le Figaro
