Do Cleansers *Actually* Expire? Here Are All the Answers...

For most of my life I thought it was a fairly sane approach to just use a product until it was finished, without really thinking about expiry dates. 

After all, it’s creepy to think about bacteria growing in all of your beauty products...

So, do cleansers expire? Does face wash expire? What about micellar water? Does micellar water expire!? Unfortunately, your favourite face cleanser product does have a pretty important expiration date, regardless of whether you can see it on the packaging or not. 

Most face cleansing products expire after a year or two, but this isn’t a hard and fast rule. 

The shelf life of your cleanser will largely depend on packaging, ingredients, storage conditions and more.

So, if you’ve caught yourself wondering, how long does face wash last? Here's how to tell when it's time to toss your old cleanser and invest in something new...

Does Face Wash Expire? Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Cleanser Expiration Dates...

How do you check the expiry date of face wash? Most cleansers are stamped with either an expiration date or a period after opening (PAO). 

If your cleanser bears an expiration date, throw it away when you pass that day.

A period after opening—usually stamped on the label next to an M and a jar symbol—tells you how long you can use the product after opening it.

To avoid forgetting when you opened a product, write the date on the outside with a permanent marker.

Or, use a sticker with the date you opened it.

You can watch Dermal Clinician, James Vivian explain more about expired skin care products in the YouTube video below...

Some Other Helpful Guidelines.

Expiration dates are merely guidelines, they aren’t the only thing that will tell you how long face wash is good for.

It’s also important to monitor the state of the product to assess whether it's still safe to use.

Obvious signs, such as mould growth, are no-brainer signs that you should toss your cleanser, even if it’s before the face wash expiry date.

Some more subtle signs to through out your face cleansing products include:

• Changes in colour or texture. For example, a lotion cleanser might begin thickening to a creamier texture

• Changes in smell. You may notice a distinct smell or odour.

• Changes in the container's appearance. Swelling can indicate an overgrowth of bacteria. Note that hot weather can also cause swelling, so store your product in a cool, dry location.

• Changes in the product's behaviour. Old cleansers may suddenly fizz on your skin or react in unexpected ways.

• Watery or oily discharge. This indicates that ingredients have separated or are breaking down.

What Happens If You Use Expired Face Wash?

So, now that you have all the info, you might be wondering ‘can we just use expired face wash?’

Well, the answer is about two things: efficacy and safety.

In almost every case your face cleansing products are likely to be less effective after the expiry date.

In some cases the date is there for a reason, and using expired face wash may cause a reaction to the ingredients that are no longer stable. 

It’s definitely a ‘better to be safe than sorry’ argument, but there you go. 

Our Top 6 Cleansers to Swap Your Expired Face Wash With.

Watch the YouTube video below to find out more about cleansing and how to choose the right cleanser for you...

To find more of the best cleansers, head to our cleanser category or have a read through the guides below...

• Everything You Need to Know About the Types of Cleansers (and How to Find the Best One for You)

• The Best Skincare for Teens Starts With a Good Cleanser (Here's Our Top 6)

• Meet the 8 Best Facial Cleansers for Those on a Budget (Under $35)

• 3 Signs You're Over-Cleansing and What You Can Do Instead

Still on the search for the perfect cleanser? Try our cleanser quiz to find the best cleanser for your skin's needs



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