5 Tips to Declutter Your Beauty Products
(And Actually See Results)
Check Expiration Dates
Most beauty products expire within one year, some expire much sooner. Expiration dates are often on the box which we toss immediately so stretch your brain to what you were doing when you bought it… Christmas shopping? Was it pre-pandemic? Be mindful that ingredients lose efficacy over time so holding on to it may not be worth it after all.
2. Look For Visible/Textural Changes
Many beauty products are not shelf stable for long. A prime example is Vitamin C. These serums should be stored in dark areas and used quickly. Prioritize these in your daily routine to get your moneys worth!
3. Organize By key Ingredient
Minimize doubling up on key ingredients by tipping bottles on their sides and grouping them by top ingredients. You’re not doing double duty by applying AHA twice a day, you’re exhausting your skin and wasting product.Group, then apply according to directions but a good rule of thumb (according to Dermatologist Kendra Bergstrom MD,) is thinnest to thickest.
4. Determine a “use first” order
You can use the best smelling, the closest to expiration, the most expensive, it doesn’t matter so long as you’re consistent. But be honest with yourself, if the color makes you look pale, or the texture gives you the willies, just let it go, you don’t need more stuff. None of us do.
5. use consistently for 8-12 weeks
Here’s the big one: You HAVE TO USE STUFF CONSISTENTLY for it to actually work. You’re not going to get overnight results from a wrinkle cream. 8-12 weeks of use is the guideline. And this is advice DIRECTLY from a Dermatologist mouth to my ears.
Now go get ‘em ladies! And by “em” I mean them. Actually, I mean, “Now go GET RID of ‘em ladies!”
XO Hilary
