Does Carmex Expire?
We have all experienced dry, chapped lips at some point, and finding the right lip balm is like a lifesaver for your lips.
Out of all the lip balms on the market, Carmex is one of the most popular and notable balms for healing and soothing the most dehydrated of lips.
Due to its popularity over the past several decades, the brand has expanded to include a range of formulas, packaging, and ingredients that cater to the diverse needs of every consumer.
However, lip balms are a skincare product, and with that comes the importance of being aware and knowledgeable about the ingredients they contain, their shelf life, and how soon after opening they expire.
While it may be obvious to toss a mascara or face moisturizer in our daily routine, lip balm is a product whose expiration date can be easily overlooked.
So, does Carmex expire?
As with any skincare or beauty products, yes, Carmex and other lip balms do expire. The timeframe in which they expire varies depending on the product and formula, based on the ingredients the brands include. The expiration dates for each brand’s lip balms vary, but Carmex clearly indicates the expiration date on the packaging for easy identification.
Read on to discover more about the expiration date on Carmex lip balms, how to tell if it’s expired, and whether you can use it past its expiration date.
Carmex And Why It’s So Popular
Carmex was developed in 1937 and has been a staple lip balm on the market ever since.
The product was designed as a medicated balm to soothe, restore, and hydrate dry, cracked, and chapped lips.
Carmex is formulated with many emollient-rich ingredients that deliver immediate and intense moisture to the lips, while also forming a protective barrier to lock in the moisture.
The balm is also formulated with camphor and menthol, two ingredients designed to soothe and cool the lips.
Camphor works to calm and soothe any irritation that dry, chapped lips can cause, and also provides a similar cooling sensation to menthol.
Menthol is used to refresh and restore the lips by delivering a cool, minty sensation.
Depending on the sensitivity of your lips, you might feel a slight tingling sensation when applying Carmex, due to the invigorating minty feel.
Although Carmex does create a tingling sensation when applied to the lips, it does not plump the lips asa tingling lip plumper would.
Carmex is also notable for its ability to help calm and soothe cold sores, which can be a source of irritation on the lips.
The original formula was created as a medicated balm and is still used for that purpose to this day.
Like most lip balm brands, Carmex has expanded to include a specific cold sore treatment and lip balms with sun protection.
And a jar and squeeze tube option for its original balm formula, among many other product extensions.
For more information, check out our article: Is Carmex Good For Your Lips?
Does Carmex Have An Expiration Date?
It can be challenging to determine when certain beauty and skincare products expire, especially if they lack a clearly marked expiration date indicating when to use them.
There are general guidelines on how long liquid and cream products last compared to powder products, but these can be difficult to remember.
Thankfully, most beauty and skincare brands include a way to indicate the expiration date of a product on their packaging by placing a “Period After Opening” icon to show how long a product remains suitable for use.
The Period After Opening, or PAO, icon is a symbol of a little jar with an open lid, with the number of months a product is set to last inside.
The icon will typically display “6M” for six months, “12M” for 12 months, and so on, although “6M” and “12M” are the most common durations.
This essentially indicates that once the product is opened, it will remain effective for 6 or 12 months before it expires.
Depending on the brand and product, the PAO may be listed on the outer packaging, so it is essential to note the expiration date before discarding the product.
Carmex has taken it one step further for easy identification and has begun marking the expiration date on the balm tube.
By having it placed directly on the packaging, you are sure to be reminded when it’s time to discard the balm.
Based on each batch when it was packaged, the expiration dates will vary from tube to tube.
Generally, most lip products will last approximately one year before they need to be discarded.
If you prefer the Carmex balm in the jar, keep in mind that dipping your fingers into the jar often can also increase the likelihood of bacteria forming in the product sooner than with the squeeze tube.
It is essential to keep the expiration date of the jar packaging in mind to avoid any potential adverse reactions once the “best before” or “packaged on” date has passed.
Can You Use Carmex Past the Expiration Date?
As with any product, once it passes its expiration date, it is more likely to contain bacteria or fungus.
Especially when using a lip product that is in constant contact with your mouth, it is essential to be careful not to transfer any unwanted bacteria from your skincare or lip products.
Although Carmex, like other lip balms, contains preservatives to help extend the product’s lifetime for as long as possible. Once it expires, it will no longer be effective.
It is best to discard the remaining product and open a fresh tube.
Based on the ingredients used in the formula, the shelf life of the lip balm will also be affected.
Most notably, if a lip balm contains an SPF, such as Carmex’s range with sun protection, those balms should be replaced annually.
How To Tell If Lip Balm Is Expired
The most obvious and easy way to tell if your lip balm has expired is if it begins to look or smell funny or off.
Fragrances can tend to change once they’ve expired.
Once a product has gone past its PAO date, it can begin to smell or look odd.
Depending on the formula and how far past the expiration date it is, you may also start seeing mold spots, which should be discarded immediately.
There might also be a change in consistency once your lip balm has expired.
It may become harder to spread, too slippery, too thick, or any other texture than what it originally was.
If that is the case, it is also best to discontinue use and grab a fresh balm.
Storing Carmex
If you are looking to extend the shelf life of your lip balms, there are a few tricks you can use.
The most straightforward approach is to keep the product in a cool, dry place, rather than exposing it to heat or moisture, as this is the environment in which bacteria thrive.
Primarily, if your lip balm contains SPF, storing it in a cool, dry place is essential.
Looking for lip balms with no or minimal fragrance may also help preserve the shelf life of your lip balm.
Fragrance can cause the ingredients to break down quickly, even with preservatives in place.
Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to sanitize your lip balms (or any other lip products, for that matter) periodically.
Spraying the lip balm with some isopropyl alcohol and wiping away the top layer will help remove any bacteria that may be present on the balm.
These quick fixes might help preserve your lip balm a little longer.
It is still smart to heed the expiration date to avoid any possible irritation, infection, or reaction from using an expired product.
Conclusion
While lip balms are a crucial part of keeping your lips healthy and hydrated, Carmex is a top choice for soothing, treating, and moisturizing dehydrated lips.
The emollient-rich formula works overtime to not only provide moisture but also trap and lock in hydration, delivering the ultimate comfort for chapped lips.
If you struggle with battling cold sores and haven’t found the proper remedy, Carmex is a medicated balm that soothes and calms the irritation.
However, as functional and necessary as Carmex and other lip balms are,
it is essential to remember that they are also part of the skincare category and have an expiration date that should be adhered to to avoid an adverse reaction.
Especially when lip balms also contain SPF, you want to ensure you follow the instructions on when to open a new balm to protect your lips from the sun adequately.
Most skincare and beauty items make it easy for you to see when a product should be discarded after opening.
By incorporating a PAO symbol with the proper number of months, the ingredients will be preserved.
Keeping in mind the PAO date, or for Carmex, the expiration date stamped directly on the tube, will help you keep track of when it is time to discard the old lip balm and open a new one.
