FAN MAIL FRIDAYS: Does Oil Expire?



A friend of mine and I hung out in a coffee shop last Monday night to catch up on each other and do what we do best and that is to laugh at the silliest things. She's also a lover of beauty products, specifically skin care products like (me!) and she's ga-ga over beauty oils recently. 

She asked me a very good question and that is if oil actually expires. We talked about it and I'm sharing with everyone what I told her below.


I love Oil (particularly cleansing oil) not only because it's a powerful skin purifier and humectant, but also it's a beauty product that has a pretty long shelf life (Read: savings). Some oils have an indefinite shelf life while some last for a minimum of 1 year. Nonetheless, oil lasts longer than any other beauty product out there regardless if it's Mineral Oil or Naturally- derived Oil.

So, what are the tell- tale signs that your oil has expired already? What makes oil expire too? I will answer these after the break.


If the oil you have is still sealed, but is around 2 or 3 years old already, that is still okay to use as long as it's truly sealed, stored in a dark area under room temperature, or in a refrigerator-just use it within one year after opening. If it's already 4 years old or more, well, maybe you should throw it away? LOL. Also, if the oil has changed its consistency and smells funky, rancid, or funny already, don't think twice-throw it away.

Finally, what makes oil expire? Aside from the fact that oil, too, has an ending like all things in life, the ingredients in it affect its shelf life too. Ingredients like water, acid agents, and food- grade extracts can shorten an oil's shelf life.

Bonus: Jojoba and Coconut are the oils that have an indefinite shelf life, while Rosehip Oil has the shortest shelf life at 6 months. I should make a separate blog post about this! :)

That's all and I hope you found this blog post informative. :)

**Got a burning question about makeups, skin care products, beauty, dieting, and health tips, relationships, and whatever? Just send them to martha.stabarbara@yahoo.com or shoot 'em up at The Beauty Junkee's FB Fan Page via the MESSAGE button and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. (Please, do not send me Math- related queries. :D)

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9 Comments

  1. Thanks for the heads up! I was also curious that's why i read your review. Some oils are prone to rancidity if it was exposed too much in the air. I read in a thread that you can store it in the fridge to make it long I don't know if that's true but I gotta try.

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  2. Hi Ms. M I know it's off topic but I want to ask, where can I buy Rosehip oil? I've been searching of it for my baby's dark marks due to insect bites. They said it'll lessen the dark spots? is it true? :) Thanks!

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  3. Thank you so much Ms. Martha for this very informative post. I have a lot of oils, and I do wonder how long they're going to last. I do hate throwing things away, which is why, I should know which ones to use up first. Then again, thank you so much!

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  4. Wow, Jojoba and Coconut Oil are the bomb!!! Nice to know! :)

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  5. I was also wondering about this! But fortunately, I get to consume my oils at most 1 year from when I bought them. And like you, if it already smells foul, I do not hesitate to throw it. :)

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  6. whenever i read articles here at TBJ i really LEARN A LOT! and i will include this one on my bookmarks ms m..

    not a fan of oil products but after trying Zenzest VCO (used as body oil) it doesnt feel heavy on skin and it even-toned my color =) im okay with applying oil on body but not on face, i agree that they were great savings (i can use the oil for 3 to 5 months as body lotion = saved me 5 to 6 bottle of lotion)

    off topic but yesterday while roaming around NBS i saw Babushka cards and it reminds me of you ms m.. (i know you love them too)

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  7. wow this is so informative. I use different kinds of face and body oils, and I've never thought about oils expiring because they never ever seem to go bad.. or maybe it's just that I use them up before they go bad :)

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  8. Thanks for the tips. I don't usually use oil as I already have an oily skin but this post is informative. Thanks again.

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  9. Kleah: Yes, that's true, although the oil will coagulate. I just keep mine in a cool place that's away from sunlight. ;)

    Deedee: Glad to know you learned something new today. :)

    Rhain: Thanks for sharing and that's so sweet! You remember that I love Babushkas! :D

    Abegaill: And this is why I go for oils in pump bottles so there won't be any need for me to expose the oil to air and dust. ;)

    Sincere: You can buy Rosehip Oil online and I saw one in Healthy Options too. I suggest go for Healthy Options because I am not sure if the ones sold online are genuine or regulated by the FDA, and I also don't know if it's safe to use on baby skin. Please research first before doing so. :)

    Newbee: You're welcome. :)

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Let me know what you think of this post! :)