We all have those holy grail products we never want to part with and the last thing you want after spending a pretty penny on your favourite products is for them to lose their effectiveness before they even expire. This can happen if products aren't properly stored and are in an environment where they can dry out or collect bacteria. 

Here are our tips on how to properly store your products and what you can do to ensure your skincare stays effective and fresh for longer. 

Store your products away from direct / bright sunlight. Sunlight will accelerate the aging of a product by heating it up and breaking down active ingredients. Vanities that don't sit in direct sunlight are fine, but it's best to store your products inside drawers or cabinets to keep them away from bright light. 

Store certain products in your fridge. Cool temperatures can slow down the degradation of ingredients, such as retinols, vitamin C, ceramides etc. Storing your fave eye creams and facial mists will also make application even more depuffing and refreshing. 

Choose oil based products. Skincare products fall into two categories: 'oil-based' or 'water-based'. Opt for oil based products, as they tend to last longer because there is less risk of bacterial contamination. Plus, oil-based products will help to replenish the skin's barrier function and deliver vitamins and fatty acids to help with anti-aging benefits. 

Handle your products with clean hands. Make sure your hands are clean before applying your skincare to avoid unwanted bacteria. The same goes with product applicators — avoid touching your skin directly with any oil droppers, applicators etc., so that you're not exposing your products to potential bacteria. To avoid contamination, use a spatula when scooping product out of jars or containers. 

Keep your beauty tools clean. This goes for skincare spatulas, mask brushes, gua sha tools, cleansing tools etc. These can also collect bacteria, dead skin cells, oil and dirt. Luckily, this is easy to avoid by cleaning your tools after every single use. Warm water and mild soap will do the trick.