Does hand cream expire?

How long does hand cream last?

There is no single shelf life for every hand cream. The formula, how you use the cream and where you store it all affect how long it stays usable. Look for a best before or use by date, or a period after opening symbol that gives the usable time after opening in months or years. These answer different questions: a calendar date concerns the product's age, while a period after opening concerns time since you first opened it.12

Ordinary cosmetics sold in the US do not have to carry an expiration date, while Great Britain uses date and period after opening labelling with some exceptions. An ordinary US hand cream can therefore have no expiry date printed on it, which leaves the packaging unusually quiet about something useful. If you cannot find usable shelf life information, contact the manufacturer rather than assigning the cream an arbitrary number of months.12

Hand cream with SPF needs separate attention. In the US, moisturizers that also act as sunscreens are regulated as both cosmetics and drugs, and drug products require expiration dates. Check that date rather than treating an SPF hand cream like an ordinary moisturizer.1

How can you tell a hand cream has gone bad?

Check the cream before applying it.

• Discard cream that has changed colour or developed a different smell.
• Check for separation, an altered texture, or cream that has dried out and hardened. These are signs that cosmetics can be breaking down.
• Stop using a product containing unexpected foreign material.

Creams commonly mix water and oil and need preservatives to extend their shelf life. Creams and lotions are prone to contamination by microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Preservatives help control that contamination, but can break down over time. Fingers dipped into a jar introduce microorganisms, and heat can speed their growth.145

Does unopened hand cream expire too?

Yes. Opening and handling are not the only causes of deterioration: temperature changes and sunlight also affect cosmetics. An unopened tube still needs suitable storage and attention to any printed date. A sealed cap is packaging, not a pause button for the formula.1

How to keep hand cream in good condition

• Write the opening date on the container so you can track its age.
• Wash your hands before using the cream, especially before dipping into a jar.
• Keep the container clean and tightly closed between uses.
• Protect the cream from temperature extremes. Avoid hot cars and storage that is too warm or moist.
• Keep the tube intact. Cutting off its end to reach leftover cream can increase contamination and invalidate the expiry date.

What if an old hand cream causes a reaction?

Stop using the cream if you develop a rash, redness, a burn or another unexpected reaction, and contact a healthcare provider for advice. A reaction does not automatically mean the cream expired: moisturizer ingredients, including fragrances and preservatives, can also cause allergic contact dermatitis, an allergic skin rash. Replacing an old tube with the same formula will not address an allergy to that formula.35