Don’t you just hate when you're about to whip yourself up a nice bowl of Rice Krispies and then only to find that the milk has gone bad. Unfortunately, even though we'd also like to keep that chucky slice of biltong preserved forever, most edible products have a set expiration date and packaged ones have it printed somewhere on the product.
Similarly, items like deodorant, lotion and toothpaste also have their own 'fresh' period in which it should be used – but where does one check for this? Using a bottle of body lotion as an example, the back normally contains things like the barcode and ingredients used. Somewhere nestled between the writing is an image that resembles an opened tub with '12M', '18M' or '24M' next to it - this is known as the Period After Opening (POA) symbol.
No, the letter and number combination do not represent an unsolved mathematics equation - instead it lets the user know the time period in which the product has to be used from the time it has been opened. Just like bread, cheese and yoghurt have expiration dates, body and cosmetic products also have an allocated lifespan. Companies consider cosmetic products that exceed the lifespan as no longer good but also not bad for health, which is the difference between those you can eat.
Nothing lasts forever
Avocado, berries and fish are some of the quickest perishable items, so it is best to either consume such items soon from its date of purchase or have it frozen. Most of the time, body and cosmetic products are used within the suggested period without people even knowing.
Like that old adage goes "Nothing lasts forever" and so, if you have a bottle of deodorant or lotion that has been hanging around in the cupboard since you were a teenage, it's best to get rid of it.
Now that you've got the knowledge, it's time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don't forget to use your location settings to find local cars and bakkie information close to home.
Similarly, items like deodorant, lotion and toothpaste also have their own 'fresh' period in which it should be used – but where does one check for this? Using a bottle of body lotion as an example, the back normally contains things like the barcode and ingredients used. Somewhere nestled between the writing is an image that resembles an opened tub with '12M', '18M' or '24M' next to it - this is known as the Period After Opening (POA) symbol.
No, the letter and number combination do not represent an unsolved mathematics equation - instead it lets the user know the time period in which the product has to be used from the time it has been opened. Just like bread, cheese and yoghurt have expiration dates, body and cosmetic products also have an allocated lifespan. Companies consider cosmetic products that exceed the lifespan as no longer good but also not bad for health, which is the difference between those you can eat.
Nothing lasts forever
Avocado, berries and fish are some of the quickest perishable items, so it is best to either consume such items soon from its date of purchase or have it frozen. Most of the time, body and cosmetic products are used within the suggested period without people even knowing.
Like that old adage goes "Nothing lasts forever" and so, if you have a bottle of deodorant or lotion that has been hanging around in the cupboard since you were a teenage, it's best to get rid of it.
Now that you've got the knowledge, it's time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don't forget to use your location settings to find local cars and bakkie information close to home.
