Can you use expired face cream?

What if the cream has no expiry date?

Ordinary cosmetics do not have to carry an expiration date under US law, so the jar can be surprisingly quiet about its retirement plans. There is no single shelf life that fits every face cream: the formula, how you use it and storage conditions all matter. Follow any shelf life or opening instructions on the packaging. If you cannot find them, contact the manufacturer rather than assigning the cream an arbitrary extra six months.12

What are the signs that face cream has gone bad?

Throw away cream that changes color or smell. Separation, an altered texture, or drying into a hard or cracked product are also signs of deterioration. Do not use appearance alone to extend its stated shelf life: preservatives can break down, allowing bacteria and fungi to grow. Dipping fingers into a jar introduces microorganisms, and moisture, heat, sunlight and air can contribute to deterioration.12

How do you keep the next jar usable?

• Read the full label and follow the product's directions and warnings.
• Wash your hands before using the cream, and keep the container clean.
• Close the container tightly between uses and protect it from temperature extremes.
• Avoid hot cars and warm, damp storage areas.
• Write the date you first open the cream on its container.

Recording the opening date helps you track the cream's age, rather than asking your memory to maintain a skincare archive. The date is useful even when the container has no printed expiry date.2

What if your face cream contains SPF?

Treat an SPF moisturizer as sunscreen, not just cream. In the US, moisturizers with SPF are regulated as both cosmetics and drugs, and drug manufacturers must ensure safety and effectiveness until the expiration date. Replace an expired SPF cream rather than relying on it for sun protection. Choose broad spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher and water resistance. Reapply sunscreen approximately every two hours outdoors, including when your sunscreen comes in a moisturizer.134

What if you already used expired cream?

Stop using the product if you develop a rash, redness, a burn or another unexpected reaction. Contact your healthcare provider for advice about treating the problem, and report the reaction to the FDA. A strange smell, color change or foreign material in the cream can also be reported. These steps apply to reactions from any cosmetic, whether or not its expiry date has passed.2

Can you use expired tretinoin cream?

No. Tretinoin is a prescription medicine, and medicines should not be used after their expiry date because they may no longer be safe or as effective. Check both the packaging and pharmacy label. Follow any earlier discard instruction from your pharmacist, even if the manufacturer's expiry date has not arrived. Ask your pharmacist about a replacement and safe disposal; do not flush unused tretinoin down the toilet.35

Keep tretinoin in its original container, tightly closed, at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Do not store it in the bathroom or allow it to freeze. The Sun Pharmaceutical tretinoin cream 0.05% label specifies storage at 20 to 25°C. If your medicine changes appearance or smell before expiry, take it to your pharmacist for advice.356

When applying replacement moisturizer, cleanse gently and pat dry first. Apply any prescribed skin treatment next, then moisturizer or sunscreen, followed by makeup if you use it.7