topic Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics? in Beauty

Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

grammarqueen — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:35:05 GMT

I got a couple of Estee Lauder lipsticks about six ago, and I just checked their batch code on that Cosmetic Calculator website I found a month ago. I expected them to have been manufactured in 2012 or 2013, but they were manufactured in 2007! Now, I know lipstick may be used after the expiration date and still be okay, but this is ridiculous. I got them at Macy's, and I just assumed they'd damage out product that old and not sell it. And Estee Lauder is popular, what about the Chanel counters, where the cosmetics are expensive and don't have a great turnover?

And just saying, I'd avoid getting cosmetics like the plague at those outlet malls in stores like The Cosmetics Company Store. Everything I got there was way, way past its expiration date when I checked them.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

ennui1 — Sat, 10 May 2014 03:44:57 GMT

How can they be expired if they've never been opened?

That Cosmetic Calculator website is BS.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:30:24 GMT

I don't understand .... if you bought the lipstick six years ago, that's 2008. So being manufactured in 2007 is about right.

One thing you never know is how often stock turns over in a department store. If it's not a fast seller, it could be there for ages!

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

grammarqueen — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:32:58 GMT

Tinkrbl44, thanks for the heads up. I can't edit my original post, but I purchased the lipsticks about 6 months ago, not 6 years! (It says "six ago" - grammarqueen failed to proofread, bad girl.) And yes, in my recent makeup purge I did find stuff I had bought 5+ years ago, and out they went. I had used them and they were smelling funky.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

skuggles — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:36:46 GMT

You're right. I think it happens a lot more than we'd be comfortable with if we paid attention and knew.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

BellaCarro — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:42:10 GMT

Grammarqueen, can you clarify when you purchased? Looks like you missed a word after "six" in your first sentence. TIA

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

grammarqueen — Sat, 10 May 2014 04:49:00 GMT

I wouldn't want to buy a product like lipstick, gloss or mascara that has perishable ingredients 5 years past the expiration date, even if they hadn't ever been opened, any more than I'd buy milk at the grocery that was a week past its expiration date.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

grammarqueen — Sat, 10 May 2014 12:46:13 GMT

I want to clarify that I'm not talking about cosmetics that have been opened. I'm talking about product that has sat unopened on department or drug store shelves for 5 years or more before it is sold to a customer. I don't care if it's never been opened; sooner or later, ingredients are going to start deteriorating at some point, especially if it's moist or cream-based, like mascara or lipstick. Seriously, if you walked into your favorite department store to plunk down $25+ or more for a lipstick, wouldn't you want one that was manufactured less than 3 years ago as opposed to one that was made 7 or more years ago? I would.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

EnglishRose88 — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:15:54 GMT

Where's the batch code no.?

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

scotnovel — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:20:42 GMT

On 5/9/2014 ennui1 said:
How can they be expired if they've never been opened?

That Cosmetic Calculator website is BS.

It is possible for some ingredients to deteriorate when the package has not been opened. I had some hand cream that was stored sort of accidentally (in room temp) for awhile and when I tried to use it it had changed color and texture and was not usable.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

ennui1 — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:48:11 GMT

On 5/9/2014 grammarqueen said:
And yes, in my recent makeup purge I did find stuff I had bought 5+ years ago, and out they went. I had used them and they were smelling funky.

Now, that I can understand.

Most cosmetics are loaded with preservatives. As long as they are sealed, they should be fine. If you look at your containers, they have indicators that they should be good for 12 - 24 - 36 months AFTER they are opened.

If batch codes are an issue, don't buy anything. Ever. Just move out to a log cabin, no running water and no electricity, and make everything yourself, from scratch. That's the only way to be certain.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

bells4me — Sat, 10 May 2014 16:50:17 GMT

Return them.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

ValuSkr — Sat, 10 May 2014 17:36:01 GMT

I didn't know cosmetics were perishable. They're just chemicals after all. Well, most of them are anyway.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

Andreatoo — Sat, 10 May 2014 18:13:03 GMT

if you are to believe the sales folk on the shopping channels selling their cosmetics then yes they sell expired or old merchandise. But I did hear one rep Say That if a product has no water that it doesn't expire. personally I've been kind of hoarding mascaras and when I used one that had been in the cabinet for a while it was pretty dried out :-(.I am making a concerted effort not to buy anymore regardless of price! fYI the mascara was sealed and unopened!

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

boomerchick — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:00:24 GMT

I purchased a Lancôme mascara that was already dried out when first opened it! It seemed pretty obvious to me that the dept. store had it in their inventory too long.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:17:12 GMT

While cosmetics in department stores are rarely returnable, that's not to say that a foul smelling product (or some other problem) won't be exchanged or a correction made.

If a cosmetics clerk won't help, always ask for the Store Manager. Make it look like you are going to get your way, and will make a scene in the store, if necessary. Most of the time they want you to shut up and go away, so they'll be happy to make you happy.

Works for me, every time.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

myshell624 — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:43:25 GMT

I wonder about some of the inventory from online sites as well. I do like that the items I have purchased from Mad Hippie have a date on them.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

lyn in MI — Sat, 10 May 2014 21:48:35 GMT

On 5/10/2014 myshell624 said:
I wonder about some of the inventory from online sites as well. I do like that the items I have purchased from Mad Hippie have a date on them.

I think as long as we are purchasing online from the labeling company, such as Paula's Choice, Perricone MD, Kate Somerville, Lancôme, etc, the products should not be EXP.

I think it's great that Mad Hippie dates their products. Most mfgs no longer do that because of pressure put on them by retailers to remove that info.

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

jackthebear — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:30:24 GMT

On 5/10/2014 Tinkrbl44 said:
While cosmetics in department stores are rarely returnable, that's not to say that a foul smelling product (or some other problem) won't be exchanged or a correction made.

If a cosmetics clerk won't help, always ask for the Store Manager. Make it look like you are going to get your way, and will make a scene in the store, if necessary. Most of the time they want you to shut up and go away, so they'll be happy to make you happy.

Works for me, every time.

You can return makeup to department stores, have your receipt and be nice. I would think just don;t come back every week returning

Re: Are Department Stores Selling Expired Cosmetics?

SolitaireA — Sat, 10 May 2014 22:57:03 GMT

I don't have easy access to b&m MAC and ordered (2) eyelash primers directly from MAC dot com. Both arrived with brush bristles dried and yellowed and no usable product in either tube. I took them to the nearest MAC counter along with several old, used tubes I had kept over a couple of years for 'back to MAC'. The counter rep 'didn't see anything wrong' with the new items until I showed her my old ones for comparison. She then very politely made an even exchange for new primers but seemed a bit surprised when I asked to check both new items before I left the counter. She also asked for my DL as a form of ID before making the transaction.