What happens if I use expired The Ordinary products?

Take a look around your fridge and within a few seconds, you could probably tell at first glance what should be thrown out. Your veggies and spices start to wilt and dry up, while prepared meals start to form oil at the top of the plastic containers. And that milk? One whiff and you know it’s not okay to drink. But what about when you look in your makeup bag, your shower or medicine cabinet? It’s not always clear if your foundation or shampoo is okay to use, or if it’s time to toss it out and replace the goods. Using expired products is not only a little gross, but it can also be troublesome for your skin.

“The main problem with old products is that they can decompose. The chemicals can separate and cause problems with the skin. I have seen burns and irritation from old products. They can also harbor bacteria and cause a skin infection or even worse: they can have viruses and cause a herpes outbreak,” explains Dr. Debra Jailman, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Yikes, right? As Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, Calif. explains, generally speaking, you should look for three things when considering how healthy your product is: “If the product looks different than when you first opened it, throw it out. Or if there is any change in texture, color, smell or if the product begins to separate, throw it out. Or if you used the tool or product over an infected area and can’t sanitize it, probably throw it out, too.”

The PAO symbol—or, period-after-opening symbol—is another thing to look out for. It looks like a small jar of body butter with a number and the letter “M” written inside or underneath it. The number represents a product’s expiration date once opened for the first time. For example: If you open a product labeled “6M,” you have 6 months to use it before it’s considered expired.

Want to know specifically how long your coveted items last? Here, dermatologists tell all.

1. 1. Sunscreen

   Though you don’t need us to remind you that wearing sunscreen is important every single day (and not only in the hottest heat wave of summertime), most people won’t go through a big bottle of sunscreen quickly. Especially if you’re only wearing a thin layer each time you apply, you might hold onto your SPF for many seasons. Dr. Shainhouse advises that if you open a bottle, be careful and pay attention.
   Shelf life: Around two years, depending on the quality of care. “Sunscreens tend to have a long shelf life, and should be effective for about two years after opening,” Dr. Shainhouse says. “However, exposure to heat, when bottles are left in the sun, can cause the active sunscreen agent and vehicle ingredients to break down faster, and can also change the consistency of the lotion.”
   How to tell if it’s bad: Try to think of your bottle of sunscreen in the same context you might consider that carton of milk in the fridge. When it starts to change shade or smell funky—step away. “If you notice that it has changed from white to yellow, smells off or that the cream is separating, toss it out,” Dr. Shainhouse advises.

2. 2. Shampoo

   Even if you opt for a more luxe brand of shampoo, most companies offer oversized bottles that over time are more cost-effective than spending money on a new bottle of hair wash every month. (And if you have longer hair, maybe even sooner than that.) But if you’re worried about its performance weakening over time, rest easy. Unlike most beauty products, shampoo lasts a long time.
   Shelf life: You can keep these for a while; just make sure they’re tightly sealed and kept in a clean shower. “Closed shampoo bottles will last for many years on the shelf. Open ones can last for a couple of years, too, so long as they are closed tightly and don’t get diluted down with shower water, or contaminated with mildew,” Dr. Shainhouse notes. She also adds that a gel shampoo will last much longer than a creamy one.
   How to tell if it’s bad: Since you wash your hair each day (or every other day), you’re going to be used to the scent and texture. If you notice that either of those is off, Dr. Shainhouse says to throw it out and buy a new one.

3. 3. Soaps and Cleansers

   If you’ve made the swap to bar soap from your shower gel, you’ll know that a bar of soap will last for quite a long time. But is it okay to use for months upon months? Whichever way you choose to cleanse your body, you have full permission to take your time.
   Shelf life: If you’re given a set of five soaps or body gels for your birthday, it’s very likely that it will take you a while to get through them. “Don’t open them,” Dr. Shainhouse says, because they can last for years if they’re still in their packaging. Once you’ve broken the seal, you still have a year or so, she says. The only exception is creamy washes, as Dr. Shainhouse notes, they “begin to turn off-color or smell rancid more quickly, due to the oils in them.”
   How to tell if it’s bad: Again, utilize your five senses to make a judgment call. “If the color, smell or texture changes or looks wrong, or if the product separates, splurge for a new bottle,” she explains.

4. 4. Moisturizers

   By now, it’s part of your daily routine to wake up, wash your face, turn on the coffee pot and apply your moisturizer. Most people become pretty loyal to their trusted moisturizer and you should be equally as dedicated to making sure your old faithful is still going strong.
   Shelf life: Dr. Shainhouse says that a good moisturizer will last up to a year and that as long as it looks and feels as it did when you first popped open the bottle, you’re good to go.
   How to tell if it’s bad: Over time and depending on the conditions in which you keep your moisturizer, you’ll start to notice a difference in color and even smell. If this happens, say goodbye to that bottle.

5. 5. Serums

   These mighty but powerful drops on your face make a big difference in the texture, complexion and youth of your cells. While recommended by most dermatologists, especially as we age, serums don’t last as long as we would like them to, especially if they’re opened. It’s not that they necessarily go bad, it’s that they lose the good stuff that makes us shell out the extra cash for them from the get-go.

   Shelf life: About a year, according to Dr. Shainhouse. “While the active ingredients might lose some of their stability, like vitamin C, or potency over time, if the product looks unaffected, it is not harmful to use for at least a year,” she says.

   How to tell if it’s bad: Because of the bottles most serums are packaged in, you don’t run as many risks as you do with other skin care items. “Serums are usually dispensed in an opaque squeeze tube or pump bottle, so there is no concern for contamination from dirty fingers or product degradation due to UV exposure,” she says. But as with anything, if something feels or smells off, it probably is.

   Can I use ordinary products after expiry date?

   We'd recommend using your products from The Ordinary within 12 months. The brand also suggests to consult the period-after-opening symbol to be sure.

   Do The Ordinary products expire if unopened?

   Deciem say the shelf life of the brands (unopened) are as follows; The Ordinary products – 3 years.

   How do I know my ordinary product is expired?

   For bottled products, it is often printed on the underside of the bottle, just below the label, and sometimes even on the label itself.

   Can you take niacinamide after it expires?

   The shelf life of a vitamin varies depending on its contents and how it's stored. While vitamins are unlikely to cause any side effects when they pass their best before date, they will lose potency over time. If you find a bottle or pack of vitamins that has expired, it's safest to dispose of it and buy a new one.