While every condiment in the store gives clear instructions to store in the fridge, beauty products do not. Today, there is a lack of knowledge on how we should be storing our products to keep them safe from bacteria and effective in their purpose. Not knowing how to can lead to reducing their shelf life or make them unfit for use. 

Sunlight not only damages your skin but imagine what the heat from direct sunlight could do to your products. Increased exposure can cause products to age faster. This means that the lid symbol on the back of the bottle (that says you have 12 months use) isn't accurate when you do not take the proper precautions. The active ingredients used in skincare often break down due to the heat from the sun. 

Here the simple answer is to stop storing your products on the bathroom windowsill or directly facing the window.

Just like heat destroying the shelf life of products, cool temperatures can extend it...no, it doesn't mean you can use them past their expiry date. It does mean that you prevent the formula from prematurely breaking down. Store skincare products that contain retinol or vitamin c in the fridge, alongside under eye creams, sheet masks and nail polish. 

How many of us are checking that lids are tight, and caps are fully sealed after using? Probably not as often as we would like because we aren't making a conscious effort to think about it. Well, I'm telling you to start. Germ and bacteria can enter through the smallest of gaps, making formulas ineffective and doing more harm than good. To ensure products stay clean and healthy, to work towards healthy hair and skin, check your gaps!

I'm sure you are impressed with your vanity line up, you spend so long hand selecting the every day products you reach for, who wouldn't be precious over the aesthetic and keeping them within arms reach? However, the steam from your shower is not doing you any favours. Water can condense on the surface of certain formulas and create mould. Move bath salts, scrubs, powders, and anything without a strong seal away from the vanity. Shampoo and conditioners are fine in you're checking the cap is fully down.

The shelf life of a personal care product is the period amanufacturer recommends their product is best to use. Take note of that opencap symbol on the back of the battle, this is how long manufacturers are sayingyou should be using the product for, once opened.