Source: flickr.com user JEM
Most skin care products are formulated with ingredients designed to keep them pure and fresh. However, even with these precautions, there are times when one’s products begin to have issues, from harmful bacteria to texture separation. If you’re looking to prolong the life and purity of your products, follow these simple steps for how to keep skin care products fresh.
1) Use a cosmetic spatula. It may seem weird to use a cosmetic spatula or cotton swab to apply your own skin care products, but it will hugely reduce the amount of bacteria in your bottles and jars. Removing product with a small plastic spatula, or even a small spoon, will ensure that your products stay fresh.
If it’s unrealistic for you to have the extra step of a scooping implement, at least wash your hands before dipping into your creams and lotions! This will reduce the risk of transferring harmful bacteria to your product, helping to prolong its life.
2) Store your products properly. Most beauty products will recommend a cool, dry storage space, though very few require refrigeration or other special accommodations. This is not for the manufacturer’s entertainment! Your products will last much longer – and maintain their textures better – when stored properly.
3) Don’t share! Beauty products are one area in which sharing is not caring. Especially eye products! Swapping everything from face cream to eye cosmetics is one of the main ways you can “infect” your product and lead to its demise. If you care about the health of your skin, eyes, and products, tell your friend to bring her own products!
4) Use your products within a respectable timeframe. This may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes people assume that skin care products don’t expire. That’s not the case! Even if your products don’t have an expiration date (most don’t), that doesn’t mean they can sit on a shelf for a year and have the same texture and efficacy as a new product. They may even irritate the skin after sitting for so long. So, don’t get precious about savoring your products; use them as they’re intended to achieve the results you bought them for!
These four little steps will go a long way toward keeping skin care products fresh and pure.
Raw Essentials 