Personal Care & Health
Health, hygiene, and personal care products that expire or lose effectiveness over time. Your body deserves fresh supplies.
| Item | Lifespan | Check Frequency | Replacement Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunscreen | 3 years (from manufacture date) | Check expiration date before each summer season | $8 - $20 |
| Vitamins & Supplements | 1 - 3 years (from manufacture date) | Check expiration dates every 6 months | $5 - $40 |
| OTC Medications | 1 - 3 years (check each product) | Every 6 months (medicine cabinet audit) | $5 - $20 per product |
| Contact Lenses & Cases | Daily (dailies), 2 weeks, or monthly per type; case every 3 months | Follow prescribed wearing schedule exactly | $20 - $80/month (lenses), $5 - $10 (case) |
| Makeup (Mascara, Foundation, Lipstick) | 3 months (mascara), 6-12 months (foundation), 1-2 years (lipstick/powder) | Monthly (smell and texture check) | $5 - $50 per product |
| Running Shoes | 300 - 500 miles | Track mileage; inspect monthly | $80 - $180 |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | 3 years (unopened), 1 - 6 months (opened) | Before each use (fizz test) | $1 - $5 |
Sunscreen
3 years (from manufacture date)Sunscreen expires 3 years from its manufacture date, or by the expiration date printed on the bottle. The FDA requires...
Vitamins & Supplements
1 - 3 years (from manufacture date)Vitamins and supplements have expiration dates printed on the label, typically 1 to 3 years from manufacture. After...
OTC Medications
1 - 3 years (check each product)Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and antihistamines carry expiration dates that the FDA...
Contact Lenses & Cases
Daily (dailies), 2 weeks, or monthly per type; case every 3 monthsReplace contact lenses on exactly the schedule prescribed by your eye care provider: daily, biweekly, or monthly....
Makeup (Mascara, Foundation, Lipstick)
3 months (mascara), 6-12 months (foundation), 1-2 years (lipstick/powder)Mascara should be replaced every 3 months. Liquid foundation lasts 6 to 12 months. Lipstick and lip gloss last 1 to 2...
Running Shoes
300 - 500 milesReplace running shoes every 300 to 500 miles. The midsole foam that provides cushioning and energy return compresses...
Hydrogen Peroxide
3 years (unopened), 1 - 6 months (opened)Unopened hydrogen peroxide lasts about 3 years. Once opened, it begins losing potency and is typically effective for...
About Personal Care & Health Replacement Timelines
The health, hygiene, and personal care products in your bathroom cabinet and medicine chest have expiration dates that most people ignore or never check. Sunscreen loses its UV protection. Medications lose potency. Mascara becomes a bacterial incubation chamber. Contact lens cases develop biofilm that can cause serious eye infections.
The timelines in this section come from the FDA (for medications, sunscreen, and cosmetics), the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and product manufacturers. Unlike home safety items with firm government-mandated replacement dates, many personal care timelines are based on the product's preservative system and the conditions of use.
The common thread across these items is that they are applied to your body: on your skin, in your eyes, on your teeth, inside your wounds. A degraded product applied to the body carries a different risk profile than a degraded product used on a countertop. The stakes are not just effectiveness; they are your health. An expired sunscreen that provides SPF 10 instead of SPF 50 means five times the UV exposure on a day at the beach. An expired OTC pain reliever that has lost half its potency means inadequate relief when you need it.