When do creams expire?|Zen |THE WORLD

Formulation components can create by -products over time when coming into contact with the outside

You don't have to take risks with eye contours or lots

We have all ever put hand to a cosmetic product that had been open for months.With the passage of time, the components of the creams are degrading.Especially, if they come into contact with the outside.Sometimes, this is not a health problem, but you have to walk with an eye if the product is not in optimal conditions for consumption.Established periods usually give a wide margin.In the case of sunscreens, for example, the filter can deteriorate from one year to another.

"There was a very popular case when Mercadona had to withdraw some creams, and not because they were in poor condition or were bad in themselves, but because its components, mixed, could create by -products that in large quantities could be harmful," recalls Enrique Bernat, titular pharmacist.

According to this expert, a few years ago, each country had its own regulation on the expiration of treatments.The European Union established by law a regulation to regulate brands and thus create a common criterion."As of March 11, 2005, cosmetics that have an expiration exceeding 30 months have no obligation to put an expiration date, but a recommended consumption once opened.The name of this labeling is the PAO, (AFTER Opening period -period after the opening-).This is the symbol of a jar with an M next to a number, which indicates the period until we can use it in perfect condition, "explains the owner of the Bernat Pharmacy (Paseo de Las Delicias, 72, 28045 Madrid.Tel.915 27 37 48).

There is a lot of difference from some brands to other.Generally, the Spanish Germaine de Capuccini does not indicate the expiration date of their products, since most of them have a useful life greater than 30 months.On the other hand, the Roche-Posay usually puts both the PAO and the expiration date.This necessarily equals a greater rotation, when referring to the period during which the cosmetic is safe and fulfills its function, regardless of whether the container is open or closed.

"Más allá de la fecha de consumo recomendado no se puede asegurar el buen estado del producto, pudiendo verse alterada su composición, lo que supone que no se puede garantizar ni la eficacia ni el uso seguro", cuenta Cristina Biurrun, Directora Científica & Asuntos Reglamentarios L'Oréal España.

The products that do not have labeled

The medicine agency exempts the PAO from the monodosis products -to be closed until consumption -, aerosols -because they are never in contact with the environment -, products that have an expiration of less than 30 months -they have already been a date-, those in which there is no risk of deterioration and nutrichetic, which is governed by food products regulations.

This is the theory."In practice, the user does not usually look at these issues or think that nothing happens if it does not smell rancid, for a long time that has happened since the last time.A cosmetic is like a medication, and is in contact with the skin, which is an organ after all.The product may be fine but, if it loses properties, it does not work in the same way, "says Bernat.

Do not be alarmed, the sector is very controlled.Member States supervise compliance with the regulations through controls of marketed cosmetic products, as well as compliance with the principles of good manufacturing practices.In Spain, it is the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products and the health authorities of the Autonomous Communities who carry out the necessary inspections and controls.

"In the L'Oréal group, more than 400 people take care that each of the products that are marketed anywhere in the world are in accordance with the regulations of the corresponding country.From verifying the composition of its composition, going through checking and any type of communication, to market surveillance.All this, with the aim of offering consumers a safety, quality and efficiency guaranteed, "says Biurrun.

Immaculate Vivó, Technical Director of Germaine de Capuccini, adds: "If it is detected that a product spoils before 30 months, it is rectified until it exceeds aging tests, which consist of subjecting a certain number of units to variousAdverse environmental conditions that aggregate to the product (high temperatures, humidity, ambient temperature), between three and six months, in order to assess what the product's behavior will be in the market ".

How to detect the poor condition of a cosmetic

In addition to the indications of the product itself, the appearance of a cream is decisive to know if it is in optimal conditions.A priori we cannot affirm that some products have a useful life less than others.All this will depend mainly on the formulation."The more natural the less preservative brand will take and, consequently, the time of use once it is reduced is reduced.Second, you have to take into account the color, aroma and touch.That is, if you have lumps, if you have yellowed, oxidations, rootings...If the product is oily this is easily detected, because, with the breakage of emulsions, the phases are separated and a supernatant appears, which translates into liquid on the product, "says Bernat.

The pharmacist advises not to spare with sunscreens."I would renew them every year, even if they are not open.They do not cost so much, and UVA and UVB rays are increasingly harmful.The sun, although necessary and provides vitamin D, is the main cause of aging.Nothing has to happen but, for security, it is not worth risking, which are the most important creams ".And insists on using it on face both in summer and winter before going out.

In addition to the lots, there is another product that this professional advises to apply once the recommended consumption date has passed: eye contours."This treatment applies in a very delicate area, where the skin is much thinner and can react easily, being very sensitive".

Regarding conservation, Bernat recommends having treatments such as the first aid kit: "preserved in a fresh and dry place, where direct light does not affect.We, in the pharmacy, we are in mind to create shop windows.Whenever we expose a product then we do not sell it, or try to place the box only ".

The useful life of an eye pencil or compact powders is superior to a cream or emulsion, since their formulation is less stable."With the passage of time, loss of perfume, color alteration, loss of transparency, etc..These effects are not harmful or involve risks to the consumer, but it may happen that, if the product is not preserved in the conditions indicated by the manufacturer, there are alterations of the pH that will cause irritation or bacterial contamination, in which case there is a risk of infection ", concludes Immaculate Vivó.