Does lip balm go bad?

How long can you keep lip balm?

Check the packaging for an expiry date and an open jar symbol. The number beside the jar tells you how many months the product should be kept after opening: 6M means six months, while 24M means 24 months. Follow the product's stated limit rather than assuming every balm lasts the same length of time. The little jar symbol is a calendar instruction, despite looking like packaging decoration.1

Ordinary cosmetics do not have to carry expiry dates under US law. If a plain lip balm has no date or opening symbol, use six months after opening as a general guide. Shelf life also depends on the formula, how you use the balm and where you store it.12

What are the signs lip balm has gone bad?

Replace the balm if you notice any of these changes:

• The smell becomes unpleasant, sour or noticeably different.
• The texture separates, dries out, hardens or cracks.
• The color changes from how it looked when new.
• The balm no longer applies or performs as it used to.

If you develop a cold sore, stop using the lip products you were using and replace them. Lips carry bacteria, so lip products can become contaminated quickly during use. A familiar tube is not exempt from retirement because it still has some left.1

Does lip balm go off?

Yes, and an unopened balm is different from one already in use. Unopened, well formulated cosmetics can stay stable for years at room temperature. Opening exposes ingredients to air, which starts oxidation and breakdown. An unused balm still needs its own storage conditions and label checked; being unopened does not give it an unlimited shelf life.1

How should you store lip balm?

Keep the container and applicator clean, and wash your hands before applying balm. Do not share it. Fingers introduce bacteria and fungi into pots, while preservatives can weaken over time. Heat speeds that process, so avoid leaving balm in a hot car. Moisture in a bathroom can also help microbes grow. The glove compartment is convenient storage, but convenience is not a preservation method.23

Does SPF lip balm expire?

Yes. For US sunscreen lip balm, do not use it past the printed expiry date. If no expiry date is printed, consider it expired three years after purchase; discard it if you do not know its age. That sunscreen rule is not permission to keep an opened lip balm for three years. Keep SPF balm out of excessive heat and direct sunlight. For a replacement, choose SPF 30 or higher and reapply about every two hours outdoors, following the label after swimming or sweating.45

What if the balm irritates your lips?

Stop using a balm that causes irritation. Age is not the only possible cause: fragrances, flavorings and artificial colors can irritate lips, and menthol, phenol and salicylic acid can make them drier. Lip balm helps protect against chapping; a simple petroleum jelly or beeswax balm is an option for dry lips. A pharmacist can help you choose a replacement. See a doctor if your lips are hot, painful and swollen, because these can be signs of infection.367