According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a cosmetic product’s "shelf life" generally means the length of time the consumer can expect it to look and act as expected, and to continue to be safe for use. Of course, this varies depending on the type of cosmetic product, how it is used and how it is stored.
Based on inspections of cosmetic manufacturers, the FDA reports:
- Some companies test products by exposing samples to various temperatures and humidity levels, to see how different conditions affect the products.
- Other companies also track how long their products have been on store shelves and alert the store when it is time to discard the products.
However, the law does not require companies to share testing and tracking information. What's more, per the FDA, there are currently no U.S. regulations that require cosmetics to have certain shelf lives or expiration dates on labels. Still, manufacturers must ensure products are safe.
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This made us wonder: How do you assess the shelf life of a product: analytical testing, organoleptic testing, or consumer feedback over time? Please take our poll — and be sure to check back for the results!
