How to recognize that your care cosmetics have deteriorated: a key sign.

Skincare products can become dangerous if you don't follow the rules for storing them. If your shelves or cosmetic bags are half full of used products, it's important to check the expiration date regularly.

However, experts say that the end-of-use date is not a guarantee that the product will not deteriorate faster. There is a simple way to determine whether a care product can still be used.

Kiehl's Skincare experts said that there is one sign you should always look for to check if your cosmetics have expired.

Products slowly degrade over time, even if they are stored properly. The expiration date depends not only on the ingredients and preservatives in the composition but also on the quality of the packaging.

Experts say that a sign of an expired product is when the skin suddenly starts to itch after application – especially if there were no side effects before.

"If you suddenly start to itch from a product that has been open for some time, you should immediately throw it away and clean your skin thoroughly," the experts emphasized.

Look for the POA (period after opening) section on the label, which usually contains warnings about the expiration date of the product in six or twelve months.

If there are no POA warnings on the label and you do not experience any itching, Kiehl's advises you to carefully examine the product and pay attention to the following nuances

• whether the smell has changed;
• whether the color has changed;
• whether the texture has changed.

If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, it's time to throw the product away.

It is dangerous to use products that have expired.

"First of all, they won't be as effective. The active ingredients break down over time, and chemicals can change the formula," the cosmetologists emphasized. For example, if you have a sunscreen that has expired, it will not be effective in protecting you from the sun, leading to burns.

Expired products will also be full of bacteria, which can cause redness, rashes, or infection. If you have sensitive skin, you should be extra vigilant. The intensity of the reaction also depends on the ingredients and individual sensitivity to them.

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