Do face masks expire if unopened

Mask mandates may be lifting in many parts of the United States, but don’t ditch your face coverings just yet.

Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new mask guidelines that varied depending on your Covid-19 community level. If you live in a low- or medium-risk area, masks are not always needed, but if you live in a high-risk area, masks are recommended in most situations.

The levels change depending on a variety of factors such as the number of new Covid cases and hospital admissions, so check your county’s status periodically to stay up to date.

CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen recommended people look up all the counties they frequent.

“Just like with a weather forecast, I’d recommend that people check these numbers regularly, because they could change,” Wen said.

Regardless of your area’s status, some people may still want to wear face coverings, said Dr. John O’Horo, infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Some immunocompromised individuals and unvaccinated people may feel more comfortable wearing a mask, he said.

“There are those who have unvaccinated at home. I myself have two children under the age of 5,” O’Horo said.

Others may want to wear a mask when going indoors to places like grocery stores, said Christopher Sulmonte, project administrator for the Johns Hopkins Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

“A mask is essentially another tool for you to have in your toolbox from an infection control standpoint,” he said.

Mask guidelines can vary over time, Sulmonte noted, so it’s a good idea to keep some masks on hand should your situation change.

Storing your masks

However you decide to store your masks, they need to be in a dry area, Sulmonte said.

“I personally use a paper bag without sealing it, because the big thing is you want it to recirculate with air,” he said.

Another way to store your face coverings is to use a plastic container with holes in it, O’Horo said.

For cloth masks, make sure to wash them like you would any other piece of clothing you own, he added.

If you’re taking a hiatus from mask-wearing, be sure to check the expiration date of your disposable masks before wearing one, Sulmonte advised. The dates can often be found on the outside of the boxes, he said.

“It doesn’t mean that it’s broken afterwards. It just means the integrity of the mask isn’t as strong as it was beforehand,” Sulmonte said.

The same goes for cloth masks. If you see some wear and tear on the fabric, it may be time to retire that mask, he said.

If you notice some of your disposable masks have a quickly approaching expiration date, Sulmonte recommended people prioritize wearing the ones with a closer date to avoid having to throw them away.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

Skincare is an investment that tends to build up over time — and by that, we mean that it’s surprisingly easy to find yourself with more skincare products than you’re capable of using up.

If you’re a sheet mask enthusiast, then it’s likely you’ve bought these by the dozen. After all, who wouldn’t want to stock up on these inexpensive mini facials?

Korean sheet masks are highly moisturizing and nourishing on the skin. Plus, this K-beauty staple is super affordable, which makes them a great addition to your regular skincare routine or as a way to pamper yourself every once in a while.

Alas, sheet masks are subject to the same fate as the rest of our beauty products. New products take their place, and these sheet masks are put on the back-burner — at least, for a while.

After an indefinite amount of time has gone by, these sheet masks emerge from the depths of the drawers. With no clue as to when they were purchased, we wonder: are these sheet masks still okay to use?

Here’s everything you need to know about sheet mask expiration dates.

Do Korean face masks expire?

The short answer is yes. Like most beauty products, Korean sheet masks expire. As tempting as it may be to turn a blind eye to the expiration date, doing so might do more harm than good.

Over time, the chemicals and ingredients in the sheet mask break down and become less effective. On the other hand, certain active ingredients, such as glycolic acid and fruit acids, become more potent. Using a sheet mask past its expiration can cause redness and skin irritation.

How long do Korean sheet masks last?

The average sheet mask generally has a pretty long shelf life. If left unopened and stored properly, sheet masks can last between two to three years.

Unlike other skincare products that require you to dip your fingers into a jar or pour out from a bottle, sheet masks are completely sealed until they are used for immediate consumption. This means that they are not exposed to bacteria, allowing the preservatives to keep the product good for longer.

However, leaving your sheet masks under direct sunlight or in a warm, humid environment such as your bathroom can cause bacteria to grow inside the package, which quickens the expiry.

How do you read expiration dates on Korean face masks?

The expiry date of sheet masks varies depending on the manufacturer and brand. If you’re more familiar with Western skincare products, then you’re probably used to seeing an expiration date or a PAO or “period after opening,” which indicates how many months the product will be good for upon opening it or breaking its seal.

Korean beauty products include a manufacturing date or expiration date, and in some cases, both. You can usually find them printed at the bottom of the sheet mask packet. If you can’t read Korean, don’t worry — figuring it out is pretty simple.

Manufacturing date

The manufacturing date tells you when the sheet mask was made. More precisely, it’s the date when a specific batch of cosmetics was produced.

The reason Korean companies opt to use a manufacture date is that it gives you a clearer idea of how fresh a product is. After all, a product that has an expiration date of two years is fine — until you find out that it’s been sitting on a shelf for much longer than that.

The manufacturing date is indicated by the letter “M” or the Korean word “제조.”

Expiration date

The expiration date tells you the last day your product is safe to use. After which, the sheet mask is considered expired and unsafe to use on your skin.

The expiration date is indicated by “EXP” or the Korean word “까지.”

Pro Tip: One key thing to note is that Korean products follow the YYYY/MM/DD format for writing dates, which indicates the year first, the month second, and the day last. Keep this in mind when checking the manufacture or expiry date of your face masks.

How do you know if a face mask is expired?

When it comes to Korean cosmetics, the manufacturing and expiration dates are the best indications of quality and freshness. However, there are always exceptions to this.

Sheet masks that are stored under the right conditions can last past their expiry date. Conversely, storing sheet masks in unsuitable conditions can make them go bad faster.

If your sheet mask is still within the expiration date but you’re unsure about its quality, here are some signs that it’s already expired:

The smell is off

The easiest way to tell if your sheet mask has expired is by its smell. If the sheet mask has a strange odor or smells differently from how it used to, toss it out, as it is most likely expired. If it smells fine, then it might be safe to use.

Skin irritation

You can also do a patch test. Pour a small amount of sheet mask essence on your wrist or the crook of your elbow and let it sit for a few minutes. If you experience any itchiness, redness, or swelling, throw the mask out immediately. If your skin feels fine afterward, the mask should be safe to use.

Visible signs of expiration

Check your sheet mask for visible signs of expiration. If you notice any discoloration, separation, clumping, fuzzy growth, or any kind of texture change, toss it out.

Never use expired face masks against your better judgment. The last thing you’d want is to use an expired product and end up with skin problems. Sheet masks are relatively inexpensive, so if you don’t feel comfortable using one regardless of its manufactured date, you can always purchase

How to store sheet masks properly

As with any skincare product, storage is key. Storing your sheet masks properly doesn’t mean that they will last forever, but this will ensure that the ingredients will remain fresh and effective so that you can get all the benefits for your skin.

Avoid leaving your sheet masks out in direct sunlight. Doing so can heat up the product, which can cause the active ingredients to break down.

Avoid storing sheet masks in warm, humid areas like the bathroom. Although the face mask is sealed, heat and humidity can cause bacteria to grow inside the package, which can reduce its shelf life.

Avoid exposing the sheet mask to extreme temperatures. It’s a given that beauty products shouldn’t be left out in extremely hot conditions, but many skincare products are actually formulated to be stable under room temperature. So unless a product specifically states that it needs to be refrigerated, you don’t need to keep it in the fridge. 

It’s best to store sheet masks in a cool, dry place like a cabinet or drawer.

Pro Tip: You can pop a sheet mask in the fridge 10 to 15 minutes for a soothing and refreshing mask. This is great for minimizing pores and reducing puffiness.