Has Your Aftershave Expired?

Has your aftershave expired ?

The use of Aftershave has always been a good ritual to perform the skincare routine after shaving. From lotions, perfumes, disinfectants, balm to any long-lasting fragrance you apply keeps skin fresh and healthy after shaving.

Like any product, aftershave loses its power after a certain period of time or gives off strange, sour smells over time. However, is this due to expiration? Can aftershave expire?

Yes, aftershave can expire, however it can last from 6 months to 5 years depending on the ingredients and how it is stored. However, the fragrance usually diminishes over time.

If it contains alcohol, it can be kept for a very long time.

Can I use expired aftershave after shaving?

We do not recommend using expired aftershave because there may be some ingredients that may not interact favourably with your skin.

Let's get into more details about why aftershave expires and whether you can still use it.

Why does aftershave expire?

Any aftershave you choose will have a certain shelf life until you can safely use it as a guarantee from the manufacturer.

Several aftershaves on the market have a specific expiry date and you are often officially advised not to use the product once it expires, while most will state on the back of the bottle that it has a 12 or 24 month shelf life from the moment you open it.

You will see a 12 or 24 mark inside a container or circle.

While the fragrance you've been using for decades is fresh and strong, the aftershave balm you just bought can lose its scent in as little as a year.

Situations like this are due to the different ingredients used in aftershave that determine the shelf life and effect of the products on your skin.

Normally, aftershave balm with strong scented notes is more likely to be effective for a longer period of time than unscented products. Also, aftershave when left on is sure to lose its fragrance regardless of the expiration date.

For those who do not know the difference between an aftershave lotion and an aftershave balm you can see in this article the difference between aftershave lotion and aftershave balm.

However, the presence of the following ingredients can shorten their life in terms of fragrance and effect, at 12 or 24 months:

• Alcohol
• High water content
• Preservatives
• Glycolic acid
• Vitamin C
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Fatty acids

To the question if I can use the expired aftershave? 

Once expired, quickly discard the existing aftershave and buy another quality one with a longer shelf life.

If you use expired aftershave, some of the ingredients may react with oxygen or break down to cause bacteria or other fungal growth, making the product bad for your skin.

Whatever the case, applying an aftershave finish to your skin can lead to serious skin problems:

Sensitive skin types may immediately experience severe irritation or itching when applying expired aftershave.

Bacterial growth (if all alcohol is reduced or non-alcohol based) can cause serious skin infections, skin inflammation or acne.

Some aftershaves cause a hot sensation upon application after expiration, causing severe redness of the skin or painful blisters.

Applying aftershave to your skin with cuts can aggravate them and cause a burning sensation. You should not play with shaving cuts as they can be dangerous and especially applying expired products not knowing how your skin will react.

Signs of Aftershave Expiration.

Many visible signs may indicate the expiration of the aftershave. However, it varies depending on the aftershave the brand the ingredients and as we said where you store it.

Similarly, here are the common signs of 3 popular aftershave products for you to check during use and understand if the product is okay or not.

If you see any of the following signs something is wrong with the product.

For perfume aftershaves:

• Darker than its original colour.
• Bad or unusual vinegar smell.
• Weak or no effect on application.

For lotion aftershaves:

• Less effective on Post shave.
• Wet consistency.
• Unusual color.
• Ugly smell.

For balm aftershaves:

• Unpleasant aroma.
• Growth of bacteria.
• Poor texture.
• Poor appearance.ευχάριστο άρωμα.

If your aftershave has been left unused for years, first of all you should shake it well beforehand. Then watch out for the above signs in case a separation in the ingredients has occurred so it will not be suitable for use.

Tips to extend the life of your aftershave.

It is natural for the aftershave to expire after a certain period of time. But there are ways through which you can extend the life of aftershave.

Practical instructions:

Store it after shaving at low temperatures with less exposure to heat and light.

Do not leave the lids open for a long time as the aftershave will lose its fragrance as well as the perfumes and disinfectants.

Look for ingredients such as shea butter, hazelnut, chamomile, glycerin when buying aftershave.

Of course, natural shaves with aloe vera, essential oil such as coconut oil, jojoba oil or tea tree oil will expire sooner.

Due to the high volatility of artificial fragrances it is usually recommended to choose aftershave that contains natural fragrances.

 However, natural fragrances expire faster. For example, many aftershaves use both natural and synthetic ingredients. Natural ingredients will make them expire faster.

Of course we must mention that while the use of aftershave, either aftershave lotion or aftershave balm is essential, it does not mean that there are no alternatives and we would advise you to always have as an alternative an alum block.

If you don't know what an alum block is, you can read our article about what an alum block is and what it is used for.

Conclusion:

As every good thing in this world comes to an end. So too your aftershave, one fine day will end. The use of aftershave is imposed after every shave.

Normally, your afteshave lasts from 6 months to 12 or 24 months and of the record we have heard of shavers lasting up to 5 years depending on the ingredients

Enjoy your shave.