“In an ideal world, all beauty products would be labeled with a “sell-by” date and instructions for how long to use them after opening. Unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet, and with so many variations of products and formulas, it’s not always easy to define a clear shelf life. Expiration dates are tricky when it comes to cosmetics because it entirely depends on the product” says Chrissy Callahan from Today.com.
“Deciding how long to keep your go-to mascara in rotation or when to toss that miracle skin care cream can be downright confusing. Using a product after its prime might not seem like a big deal, but expired beauty products are less effective and can even cause health issues. We all know the negative side effects of eating expired foods, but many of us don’t take beauty expiration dates as seriously. But, as it turns out, we should!
Sometimes using a product that is expired can result in skin irritation along with bacterial infections. If a product has many active ingredients (like an SPF) and it’s susceptible to bacteria — for instance, if air hits a product when you open the jar, or you store it in a damp room or warm bathroom — it can be pretty likely to harbor bacteria.”
According to Callahan “a simple way to keep track is to use a sharpie to mark the date when you opened the product. Certain product types, like eye products, are more likely to cause infection, so if your eyes are experiencing itching, redness or weeping, you should stop using a product immediately.”
TTI technology saves people the time and effort of marking their products with a sharpie. It is also a dynamic method monitoring the conditions the product is kept in – unlike a hand written note which is static.
Time from Opening sensors remind consumers exactly how long it has been since the product was opened and therefore, for how long it can still be used, via a simple and intuitive visual cue. They clearly signal the end of the product’s secondary shelf life, encouraging consumers to use the product at its best. They are also designed to stimulate re-purchase when the product is determined to have expired.