What factors affect shelf life, and how? Over time, cosmetics start to degrade or break down for a number of reasons. Here are some common ones: • Dipping fingers into a product adds microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi (mold and yeast), which need to be controlled, for example, by preservatives. • Over time, however, preservatives can break down, allowing bacteria and fungi to grow. • Applicators, especially mascara wands, are exposed to bacteria and fungi each time you use them. • Emulsions, which are mixtures of water and oil, can separate.
• Exposure to moisture, such as in a bathroom, may make it easier for bacteria and fungi to grow. • Products can dry out, causing them to harden and crack.
• Temperature changes and exposure to sunlight and air can cause changes in color and texture and may cause the products to smell. Do some cosmetics have shorter shelf lives than others? Eye-area cosmetics tend to have shorter shelf lives than other products, which may cause eye infections that can be serious. Manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase. That’s because each time a person uses mascara, it’s exposed to bacteria and fungi.
Does FDA have rules for cosmetic shelf life and expiration dates on cosmetic labels? There are no U.S.
Laws or regulations that require cosmetics to have specific shelf lives or have expiration dates on their labels. However, manufacturers are responsible for making sure their products are safe. FDA considers determining a product’s shelf life to be part of the manufacturer’s responsibility. Not all “personal care products” are regulated as cosmetics.
Some, such as sunscreen products and acne treatments, are drugs under the law. Some, such as makeup and moisturizers that are also sunscreens, with “SPF” labeling, are regulated as both cosmetics and drugs. Drugs, including those that are both drugs and cosmetics, must be tested for stability (see the regulations at ) and are required to have expiration dates printed on the labels. Manufacturers must make sure their drug products are safe and effective until their expiration dates. To learn more, see “.” What about industry guidelines? Based on inspections of cosmetics manufacturers, FDA is aware that some companies test products by exposing samples to different temperatures and humidity levels, to see how different conditions affect the products.
This helps determine how long a product will stay safe and usable under normal conditions. Some companies also track how long their products have been on store shelves and alert stores when it is time to discard them. However, the law does not require cosmetics companies to share testing and tracking information with FDA. If you would like to know how a company tests cosmetic shelf life and keeps track of products on the market, you will need to contact the company. Steps consumers can take: How long you can use a cosmetic safely also depends on you. Here are tips to help keep your cosmetics safe: • If mascara becomes dry, throw it away. Do not add water or, even worse, saliva to moisten it, because that will introduce bacteria into the product.