Women the world over, have you ever picked up that tube of mascara or jar of foundation only to suddenly question applying it to your precious face, because—well, let’s face it—you’re cosmetic expiry dates are probably all past due? I know for a fact that I’m currently using the same eyeliner a bit (ok, a lot) longer than I should be. But, I mean, it’s not really like food—it doesn’t rot, emitting a putrid rank smell before you decide it’s ready to be thrown in the trash.
Well, according to Beauty Alert!, "Once cosmetics are opened, the spoilage process begins, reducing their effectiveness and allowing bacterial growth that can cause irritations or infections." Great, just great. Where are cosmetic expiry dates when you need them?
Although the F.D.A. doesn’t require cosmetic expiry dates, Beauty Alert! disagrees. Hence their own packages of "24 specially-designed stickers, 6 stickers for each of 4 categories of product life." I may not want to know when I should through out my make-up (there’s only so much money a girl can spend) but I’m pretty sure I no longer have an excuse.
Rotting Makeup Cures
'Beauty Alert!' Reveals Truths About Cosmetic Expiry Dates
Trend Themes
1. Cosmetic Expiry Date Stickers - Creating and marketing expiry date stickers for cosmetics that encourage consumers to replace their products after a certain length of time or after a certain amount of use.
2. Anti-bacterial Cosmetic Packaging - Developing new materials and packaging technology for cosmetics that resist bacterial growth and spoilage, increasing their effectiveness and safety for consumers.
3. Beauty Product Subscription Services - Offering beauty product subscription services that regularly deliver fresh, new products to consumers and encourage them to cycle through their cosmetics more frequently.
Industry Implications
1. Cosmetics Manufacturing - Innovating and testing new materials and packaging technology to improve the shelf life and safety of cosmetic products.
2. E-commerce - Developing online e-commerce platforms that offer subscription services for beauty products and promote frequent replacements of expired cosmetics.
3. Low Waste Manufacturing - Creating environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes that minimize waste and reduce the amount of expired and unused cosmetics that end up in landfills.