I don’t usually notice manufacturing dates of cosmetics that often because most products I get usually only feature expiry dates. However, I noticed that two of the items I redeemed from VMV Hypoallergenics had the manufacturing dates printed on their packaging and they were dated in 2011. Like one the items featured in the picture you see here is a pressed powder with a manufacturing date of April 2011 and expiry date of April 2014.
Dated too far back
I was actually slightly miffed that the product is dated so far back because it means it’s not so fresh. Okay, granted that this isn’t a natural or organic product and so it can last quite a while but that didn’t bring comfort to me. I really expect newer stocks and not something manufactured in April 2011. In fact, the first thought that came to my mind was that they had shipped in older products for our market. But apparently this isn’t true because some of the samples I’d received earlier bore the manufacturing dates of 2012.
Product may have lost its potency
While I suppose a pressed powder need not be so fresh – something made a year ago is probably still acceptable to me – but I would like my skin care products to be freshly made if possible. If it’s truly a natural or organic product, I’ll give six months for anything made for too long ago may have lost its potency even when it’s unopened. That and the issue of preservation since most of them do not use parabens. Maybe that’s why cosmetics that are handmade in small batches appeal more to me. However, I also noticed that most of the products that bear an expiry date may not necessarily state their manufacturing date. So in this case, VMV Hypoallergenics is actually more transparent as consumers can base their purchasing decision on both dates they see.
Over to you
So my question to you today is, do you expect your cosmetics (both skin care and makeup) to be freshly made? What kind of manufacturing dates are acceptable to you? Do you like the idea of having both manufacturing and expiry dates clearly marked on the packaging or is the expiry date alone good enough for you?
Hi Sesame, for skin care, I expect it to be fresh, say manufacture date to be at least 6 months from the date of purchase, for makeup, I don’t really wear any, so that’s not much of a problem to me. This also explains why I really love buying the stuffs that I am using online, somehow I always manage to get a better manufacturing date buying online than buying from the counter. And few months back, in July, I purchased a cleanser from a reputable brand from the counter in a department store. What irked me was that, the date of manufacture was like more than a year ago. And when I asked for a newer one, the BA just said, oh well, our products last for 3 years unopened. Sigh.
What you’ve pointed out is true…if we can get from the source directly online, the products tend to be newer. I think there is a stock issue when the goods are brought in.
Make-up, not so. But skincare, YES! Especially those that contain active ingredients which, most of the time, deteriorate in potency due to many factors like heat, light exposure, humidity, etc. I’d be paranoid thinking where and what my newly bought product has been through before it got into my shopping bag.
Reason why I’m not so hang up when it comes to make-up is probably because I don’t usually expect my makeup to treat my skin. And I rarely wear make-up. However, I apply my skincare everyday. But I guess, even makeup has a manufacture date limit for me since I use most naturally-formulated products and somewhere, at the back of my mind, am scared of buying something that’ll expire very soon. Anything more than 1 1/2 years would make me paranoid.
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Yes, they do deteriorate and I’m also appalled that natural oils are displayed on shelves with bright lights! For makeup, what you mention is true but I would prefer them not to be too dated cos I still think they have an effect on my skin. That, or it’s in the mind…you know what I mean?
Because most don’t really give a damn about customers..they just want money out you…sad but true..also sadly a lot don’t really care about if their products really work or not…as long as it all looks “pretty” then customers will buy and if they don’t repurchase then who cares? we have more suckers waiting in line..sorry I am angry about this
*Sigh* I can understand your anger. I agree it’s an annoying issue cos what are we paying for?
Yes. I check those. And I’d like the dates to be within the same year, preferably 3 months of less away from my date of purchase.
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Wow, your standard is high…I can live with 6 months but of course, 3 months is even better.
I rarely check the dates but after reading your post, I realize I should pay closer attention to this.
Yeah, sometimes we miss these things.
Very great article you have me reading all of my dates, lol!!!!
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Hope it helped you. 😉
No I don’t expect it to be freshly made. Why? because even if company wanted to sell freshly made products to customers, they can’t control when the customers will eventually buy their product. So as long as the product hasn’t expired and don’t smell funky then i’m fine. For example, if I buy a moisturizer that has a 2 years shelf life and it has been a year since it is manufactured, then it’s fine with me. It’s not ripely fresh but it still work right? And it hasn’t expired so it probably wont damaged your skin. just my 2 cents.
That’s true but I really prefer them not to be too dated cos some active ingredients can lose its potency over time even though the product is unopened.
i never checked the manufacturing dates of my cosmetics until i read your post. it did not cross my mind to go and check it. some of my makeup i just buy and keep them, and i actually only start using them quite long (1-2months perhaps) later. i think for makeup is still fine if the manufacturing date is slightly dated but for skincare products it is a big nono! esp for sensitive skin like mine, i would expect skincare to be the as fresh and natural as possible.
It’s better to take note of the dates when purchasing skin care products especially since some products are still sold after they’ve been manufactured for a long time.
In that case, you should go for LUSH products although they maybe on the pricey side.
There was a time I liked LUSH bit not anymore cos I don’t like their ingredient list.
the other day i was at a guardian warehouse sales, some wet tissues were manufactured a year back and it kinda eeww me (though I think it doesn’t really matter). but in the end i managed to find some that were manufactured 2 months ago 😀 even if it’s harmless, I don’t like to buy anything that’s more than 6 months older than manufacturing date
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Oh yes, sales are notorious for selling near expiry items! Worst thing is many pple are not aware and buy a lot of the products to store.
Maybe it’s important to consider the date of make-up products to assure the potency of the product. Is this also true for hair products?
Good question! Think hair products might be about the same but if it’s just for moisturizing, conditioning, and it has preservatives, it should withstand a more dated date?
I also do not like older cosmetics. Not mor ethan 6 months older. Just doesn’t feel good to me
Yeah, hate having to pay for dated cosmetics.
No, I’ve never read any of my dates. Except for the dates of makeup which I know by heart (mascara = 3 months after opening, powder over 2 years). I guess I have to start labeling my products so I know when I opened it… And when to throw it away.
Yeah, better to check cos dated cosmetics can cause troubles unknowingly.
With some makeup, yes, with others, no. Eyeshadow tends to stay ‘fresh’ for years as long as it hasn’t been opened, although things like carnauba wax do eventually go rancid. Things like foundation will change in formula over time, so something made two weeks ago will not oxidise or apply like something made two years ago. Also, the foundation I use has active ingredients that can break down quickly (compared to a shelf life of years).
I don’t think makeup manufacturers put the manufacture date on makeup here. Lotions and such things might have an expiry date, but not a manufacture date. So, it’s difficult for me to tell when something is very fresh. What makes it worse is that many companies do not seal their products, so you can open almost any foundation or lipstick in a store and try it on before buying it… and then just put it back on the shelf! x.x Ugh! It’s one thing to have a specific “trial” item, but just to try on something for sale and put it back?! Auuugh! So I never know if it’s contaminated, much less freshly made. One more reason I buy indie from trusted companies.
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Oh dear…opened items and then placed back on the shelves that customers may unwittingly purchase? That’s so wrong!
I don’t care much for makeup, but definitely yes for skincare. I think around the 1 year mark is still fine for me.
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Some can’t last 1 year though so I prefer 6 months.