Spring Cleaning Your Skincare Shelf: What to Toss and What to Keep

Is your skincare shelf due for a refresh? Just like spring cleaning your home, decluttering your skincare collection can optimize your routine and improve your skin health. Expired, ineffective, or forgotten products may be taking up space and preventing you from making the most of your regimen. Let’s walk through how to tidy up your skincare shelf and create a streamlined, effective routine.

What to Toss

Expired Products

Skincare products aren’t meant to last forever. Using expired formulas can lead to irritation, breakouts, or reduced effectiveness. Active ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids degrade over time, meaning they won’t deliver the results you expect.

Look for the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, which indicates how long a product is safe to use after being opened. Common timeframes include:

- 6M (6 months) – Eye creams, some serums

- 12M (1 year) – Moisturizers, toners

- 24M (2 years) – Cleansers, unopened sunscreens

If you see changes in texture, smell, or color—it’s time to toss it.

Sunscreen Past Its Prime

SPF loses its effectiveness over time, so if you have last summer’s sunscreen lying around, it’s best to replace it. Using expired SPF can leave your skin unprotected, increasing the risk of sun damage.

Products That Aren’t Working

Take a moment to assess your current products. Are they delivering the promised results? If a product isn’t helping your skin concerns or causing irritation, it may be time to let it go. Signs a product isn’t suitable anymore include:

It’s been sitting unused for months.
Your skin’s needs have changed, and it’s no longer the right fit.
You experience breakouts, dryness, or irritation after use.

Half-Used Jars and Bottles You Ignore

If you haven’t reached for a product in months, chances are you don’t need it. Simplify your routine by keeping what you actually use and love.

What to Keep

Your Core Routine

Stick to the essentials that consistently work for your skin—your go-to cleanser, moisturizer, vitamin C, SPF, and any targeted treatments that support your skincare goals. If a product continues to deliver results without irritation or inefficacy, it earns its place in your collection.

Hydrating and Protective Products

Spring brings fluctuating weather, so keeping hydrating serums, antioxidants, and a fresh SPF on hand ensures your skin stays balanced and protected.

Multi-Tasking Products

Anything that simplifies your routine while delivering results earns its spot. Exfoliating toners, hydrating serums, and lightweight moisturizers with added benefits are great choices.

Organizing Your Collection

Categorizing Products

Sort your products into categories like cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and treatments. This helps you quickly see what you have and prevents product redundancy.

Storage Tips for Longevity

Keep products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Store active ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids in opaque containers to preserve potency.
Use organizers or trays to keep everything accessible and tidy.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Discard Products

Instead of tossing old products in the trash, look for ways to minimize waste. Glass jars (like Tonic and Vitamin C 20% Serum) can be recycled curbside.

A tidy shelf leads to a tidy routine. By decluttering, organizing, and making sustainable choices, you set yourself up for a fresh, effective skincare regimen. Now is the perfect time to reassess your needs and explore new spring essentials to keep your skin glowing all season long.

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Spring Cleaning Your Skincare Shelf: What to Toss and What to Keep

What to Toss

Expired Products

Skincare products aren’t meant to last forever. Using expired formulas can lead to irritation, breakouts, or reduced effectiveness. Active ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids degrade over time, meaning they won’t deliver the results you expect.

Look for the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, which indicates how long a product is safe to use after being opened. Common timeframes include:

- 6M (6 months) – Eye creams, some serums

- 12M (1 year) – Moisturizers, toners

- 24M (2 years) – Cleansers, unopened sunscreens

If you see changes in texture, smell, or color—it’s time to toss it.

Sunscreen Past Its Prime

SPF loses its effectiveness over time, so if you have last summer’s sunscreen lying around, it’s best to replace it. Using expired SPF can leave your skin unprotected, increasing the risk of sun damage.

Products That Aren’t Working

Take a moment to assess your current products. Are they delivering the promised results? If a product isn’t helping your skin concerns or causing irritation, it may be time to let it go. Signs a product isn’t suitable anymore include:

It’s been sitting unused for months.

Your skin’s needs have changed, and it’s no longer the right fit.

You experience breakouts, dryness, or irritation after use.

Half-Used Jars and Bottles You Ignore

If you haven’t reached for a product in months, chances are you don’t need it. Simplify your routine by keeping what you actually use and love.

What to Keep

Your Core Routine

Stick to the essentials that consistently work for your skin—your go-to cleanser, moisturizer, vitamin C, SPF, and any targeted treatments that support your skincare goals. If a product continues to deliver results without irritation or inefficacy, it earns its place in your collection.

Hydrating and Protective Products

Spring brings fluctuating weather, so keeping hydrating serums, antioxidants, and a fresh SPF on hand ensures your skin stays balanced and protected.

Multi-Tasking Products

Anything that simplifies your routine while delivering results earns its spot. Exfoliating toners, hydrating serums, and lightweight moisturizers with added benefits are great choices.

Organizing Your Collection

Categorizing Products

Sort your products into categories like cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and treatments. This helps you quickly see what you have and prevents product redundancy.

Storage Tips for Longevity

Keep products in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

Store active ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids in opaque containers to preserve potency.

Use organizers or trays to keep everything accessible and tidy.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Discard Products

Instead of tossing old products in the trash, look for ways to minimize waste. Glass jars (like Tonic and Vitamin C 20% Serum) can be recycled curbside.

A tidy shelf leads to a tidy routine. By decluttering, organizing, and making sustainable choices, you set yourself up for a fresh, effective skincare regimen. Now is the perfect time to reassess your needs and explore new spring essentials to keep your skin glowing all season long.

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