Spring is here and it has us all eager for a fresh start, green grass, decluttered rooms and fresh, clean air. I don't know about you but I've had my doors and windows open as much as possible and have already made a few trips to the local thrift store trying to clean out overstuffed rooms and drawers that Winter has indefinitely accumulated. 

Spring cleaning aside, it's necessary to take a quick look at your skincare and beauty products this time of year as well. If you've had that same green jar from 3 years ago on your shelf it's definitely time to toss it and start fresh with a new jar. 

Most Éminence Organic Skincare products have a 12-18 month shelf life, but keep in mind this criteria is variable and dependent on how and where the product is kept, if it was exposed to harsh heat or cold, and how much air it has been exposed to. 

When analyzing if your skincare product is still "good" or not look for these key things...

Has the product separated, lost it's consistency, or dried out? If so, toss it.

Has the product changed color or lost it's smell? If so, toss it.

Is the product more than a year old? If so, look for the above indicators that it's no longer potent or viable and decide accordingly. 

Has the product oxidized? This is more than likely to happen to a Vitamin C serum, treatment or masque. When exposed to air, heat and/or light, Vitamin C will oxidize by turning dark brown and lose it's potency. The shelf life for most Vitamin C serums is about 12 months at best. Use your product consistently so you don't lose your product and waste money!

Does the product smell like mold? This usually happens to the Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant or the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant when water gets in the jar. I recommend not storing this type of product in the shower or anywhere water can reach it to prevent this from happening. 

Take a quick look at your beauty care products while you're at it. 

Mascara is really only good for a couple months at best. If it's dried out or flaky, toss it to prevent irritated eyes and eye infections such as styes and pink eye. 

If you've been holding onto makeup from years ago (like high school, eeeew!) it needs to go in the trash, even if it still looks brand new. Makeup palettes and old lipsticks are notorious for holding bacteria and germs that are no good for your skin. 

After taking inventory of all my products, I like to wipe down everything with a Clorox wipe or disinfectant and re-organize things so it's neat, tidy and easy to get to. My favorite way to store my skincare products is in a cute storage basket. Remember no matter how you store your products be sure to keep them in a cool, dark place away from water, direct cold, heat and sunlight. 

Make sure to create a wishlist of products you need to stock up on too.

xo Tiffanie