Makeup lovers are happy. With the end of the mandatory use of masks in some states and the Federal District, many have only just returned to their makeup. But the products that were kept in the closet for months, won.
According to experts consulted by the sheet using cosmetics that have expired increases the risk of irritation, allergies and other skin problems, as well as losing the guarantee that the product will fulfill its role.
The retired Sonia Maria Leinemann de Souza, 71, from Jardim Marajoara, a neighborhood in the south of the city of São Paulo, has permanent eye makeup, but likes to enhance her look even more.
The eyeshadow case with 12 colors in shades of blue, graphite, beige and purple finally found a reason to leave the drawer.
On Saturday (26), Souza wore the graphite eyeshadow to go to a party and arrived at the place with swollen eyelids. As there were no associated symptoms, he took advantage of the event. When he got home, he removed his makeup, washed his face and slept.
Four days later, the swelling continued. The retiree did not take any action other than to apply saline solution. She says it’s not the first time she’s had problems using eyeshadow that’s expired.
For doctor Bárbara Carneiro, a member of the Brazilian Association of Aesthetic Medicine and the Portuguese Society of Aesthetic Medicine, eye injuries can even decrease visual acuity, depending on the case.
She advises you to avoid expired makeup, especially if it is already open, because the accumulation of bacteria, fungi and microorganisms can cause allergies and bacterial infection in the skin and eyes.
“Any open product has a shorter shelf life than the closed one, but people believe they can continue using it”, he says.
According to the specialist, the expiration date on the package should serve as a reference while the makeup is not opened. “For example, a product that was opened in 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic and before the use of masks, should not be used now, but thrown away. This product does not have the quality to be used”, she emphasizes.
It is common for cosmetics to also have shelf life information on the label, that is, the time they will be viable after opening without losing their original characteristics and effectiveness. Thus, the shelf life is always shorter than the expiration date — which is determined to guarantee the chemical stabilization of the product, avoid allergic processes and that it does not fulfill its promises.
“For mascara after opening, the shelf life is from six months to a year. More than that can’t be used. There’s even a tutorial on Youtube on how to increase the durability of dry mascara. Guys, dry mascara should be discarded right away. They don’t go after tutorials about broken, dry makeup and how to keep using it. That doesn’t exist. You have to throw it away. Health is more important”, warns the doctor.
According to Carneiro, in the case of lipstick, the average is one to two years of use after opening the package; pencil and eyeliner, it’s six months; basis, up to one year; shade, from three to six months. It is important to point out that the durability also depends on how these products were stored, at what temperature and if they were closed.
Press officer Mirtes Bogéa, 51, from Butantã (west zone), wears makeup daily and has not given up even in the pandemic.
“Even with the mask in these two years, I kept using it and I never touched this expiration date thing. Sometimes I notice that the lipstick is already rancid, with a bad smell and only when it’s hard do I throw it away. No. I’m ashamed to say that I have eyeshadows that are over 30 years old. And it’s true! I’ve never had any allergies to cosmetics. And look, I buy from the most expensive to the cheapest”, he says.
“I’m a little biased about brands, but if someone tells me they’ve used it, I’ll jump in. I’m crazy about makeup. My friends say no one has more lipstick than I do. I must be about 60. So of course with so many, they really win.” The only exception is the eyelash mask, which Bogéa changes annually for fear of contamination.
Lipstick, eyeshadow, gloss, and any other makeup are susceptible to environmental contamination, says dermatologist Luann Lôbo, a member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology and the Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery.
“And if you have a product that has been cultivating microorganisms for years, it is very dangerous. Lipstick, for example, is always in the mouth and on the packaging. You increase the chance of developing contact dermatitis and skin infections”, it says.
Contact dermatitis causes itching, erythema (redness of the skin), itching, and scaling. In addition to the skin of the face, it can affect the mouth and eyelids. If the person presents these symptoms when using an expired product, they should wash the place well with running water and mild liquid soap, according to Lôbo. If the reaction is significant, medical evaluation is required. In some cases, oral medications are even indicated as a form of treatment.
And it’s not just makeup that deserves attention, but any cosmetic. The solar filter, if expired, the danger is twofold: in addition to the risk of dermatitis, there is no guarantee of protection against ultraviolet radiation, which causes skin cancer.
“Avoid leaving skincare products [cuidados com a pele] —makeup remover, facial cleanser, toner or micellar water, cream, serum, facial moisturizer, facial sunscreen and exfoliator— and especially makeup in the bathroom, inside bags or toiletry bags and cars for a long time. Hot and humid environments favor the proliferation of bacteria and fungi”, guides the doctor.
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