My dear elegant lady, this is a quick reminder that you
should discard your old lipstick collection. There is that one lipstick that
makes you feel like a boss lady right? I love my Maybelline matte because it
does not transfer and complements my complexion. Purple means royalty and when
I wear this particular purple lipstick I feel like a goddess.
However, I realized that lipstick got a lifespan. By 12 – 18
months you have to discard them. Used finished or unfinished. The best ones are
expensive and that’s the secret behind the business. This realization got me
thinking about just how long your beauty products should last.
My passion for writing on the impact of the beauty
industry on environmental sustainability got me wondering what to throw away
and when. The most used chemicals in the manufacturing of beauty products
include lead, paraben, butylated hydroxytoluene, Formaldehyde, and phthalates
among others.
Preservative systems are extremely important to make a
product safe. A food preservative is a broad spectrum and it is what makes
products last longer. Paraben tops the list of chemicals used in beauty
products, it is harmful and can cause hormonal imbalance. Lead found in
lipstick is highly toxic considering that sometimes it can be ingested.
Butylated Hydroxytoluene(BHT) prevents beauty products from changing color or
texture when exposed to air. It may cause skin irritation. Formaldehyde is
used in making nail polish and eyelash glue and it is toxic when inhaled.
Mineral oil is common in our lotions and creams but it also causes clogged skin
and coats skin hence blocking the pores. Phthalates which is a chemical
compound that softens plastics and products consistency is commonly used to
make nail polish less brittle when worn out and hair spray that softens hair
After following a natural hair growing enthusiasts group on
Facebook, I came to know of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth
Sulfate. I am keen on getting hair products that are sulfate free. They
are commonly used to give more form and lather on hair but are toxic to the
skin.
The key players in the manufacturing of beauty products owe
the world answers on what they have been doing concerning environmental
sustainability. Manufacturers of beauty products must commit to sustainability
in the beauty industry by using alternative ingredients. I still advocate for
the use of natural ingredients like honey, and turmeric. I have recently seen
snail serums in the market.
For consumers, I recommend the use of products consciously.
consumers should be made aware of the impact of the products they are using.
The purchasing behavior should be shaped by the manufacturers' efforts in
ensuring our environment is protected. This will push brands to make deliberate
efforts in sustainability at the manufacturing stage. According to the
Masterclass website manufacturers are not compelled by law to indicate expiry
dates on products but checking on labels, and assessing changes in smell,
color, and texture of products are some of the used by consumers to, decide
when to discard a product.
One may argue that longer shelf life limits the disposal of
packaging products but does it also put the user at risk of infections? How
about the long-term effects of the chemicals used in production? I still
believe that the issues around packaging are also to be addressed separately.
We cannot continue to use some packaging and sachet sampling for marketing.
Below is a list of the shelf life of most products used by
women.
Makeup Expiration Dates You Need to Know
Here's the
shelf-life of every cream, powder, and pencil you own, so you know when it's
time to treat yourself to some new stuff.
- Concealer: one
year - Cream
blush: one year - Eyeliner: three
months - Eyeliner
pencil: two years - Eyeshadow: one
year - Foundation: one
year - Lip
balm: one to five years - Lip
gloss: one year - Lipstick: two
years - Liquid
eyeliner: three months - Mascara: three
months - Nail
polish: one year - Powder
blush: two years
How Often You Should Toss and Replace All Toiletries
Don't forget to sort through your toiletries, too. Do you
even remember how long you've had that bottle of shampoo? Probably not. This
checklist will help give your bathroom cabinets a fresh start.
- Bar
soap: 18 months to three years - Bath
oil: one year - Body
bleaches and depilatories: six months - Body
lotion: two years - Body
wash: three years - Deodorant: one
to two years - Disposable
razors: every five to seven shaves - Eye
cream: one year - Face
cream: two years - Hair
brush: one year - Hair
gel: two to three years - Hair
spray: two to three years - Loofah: six
months - Makeup
sponge: one month - Medications: check
the label - Mouthwash: three
years from the manufacture date - Nail
polish remover: indefinitely - Perfume: one
to two years - Shampoo
and conditioner: two to three years - Shaving
cream: two years - Sunscreen: three
years - Toothbrush: three
months - Tooth-whitening
strips: 13 months
Time to do the much-needed clean-up, right?