Short answer. To build a skincare routine for 2027, audit what you already own. Keep what you use and your skin is comfortable with. Drop what is past its date, has changed or stings. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says "Using several anti-aging products at the same time can irritate your skin" (AAD).
Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
Published 7 November 2026. Last updated 7 November 2026. Sources checked 31 October 2026. Written by the Oleah team from the sources listed below.
How do you build a skincare routine by auditing your shelf?
Take every product out and sort it into keep, check and drop. This piece is about clearing out what you have, not buying more. A shelf audit is a once a year look at every bottle, jar and tube you own.
- Take everything out. Include the bathroom cabinet, your bag and the travel kit.
- Check the dates. Look for an expiry date, or a small open jar symbol with a number of months.
- Check each product for changes. Look at the colour, the texture and the smell.
- Find doubles. Put products that do the same job side by side, such as two cleansers or three serums.
- Add the products on your shelf to Oleah. You then have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
- Be honest about use. If you have not opened it in months, it goes in the check pile.
How do you know if a skincare product is past its date?
Look for a printed date or a period after opening symbol. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) covers US rules. It says "There are no U.S. laws or regulations that require cosmetics to have specific shelf lives or have expiration dates on their labels" (FDA). The FDA also says sunscreen products are drugs under the law, and drugs "are required to have expiration dates printed on the labels."
UK packs can carry a period after opening symbol. GOV.UK says it shows a date "indicated in months or years, during which it is still safe to use" (GOV.UK). Trading Standards' Business Companion says products with a shelf life of more than 30 months must carry that symbol (Business Companion).
How long does sunscreen last?
Check the date on the bottle first. The AAD says "The FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their original strength for at least three years" (AAD, sunscreen FAQs). The AAD also says "If the expiration date has passed, throw out the sunscreen."
If there is no date, the AAD suggests writing the date you bought it on the bottle. For where sunscreen sits in your routine, read how does sunscreen fit into a skincare routine.
What signs mean a product should go?
A change you can see or smell is the clearest sign. The FDA says "Emulsions, which are mixtures of water and oil, can separate" (FDA). It also says temperature changes and exposure to sunlight and air "can cause changes in color and texture and may cause the products to smell."
For sunscreen, the AAD says "Any obvious changes in the color or consistency of the product mean it’s time to purchase a new bottle" (AAD).
| Keep | Check | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| You use it and your skin is comfortable with it | You have not opened it in months | It is past its date or its period after opening |
| Nothing else on your shelf does that job | It does the same job as another product | It has separated or changed colour, texture or smell |
| Its date and label are clear | It has no date and you do not know when you opened it | It stings, burns or tingles when you use it |
Should you drop a product that stings?
Yes. The AAD says "Stop using a product that stings, burns, or tingles" (AAD). It adds that if a dermatologist prescribed the product, you should ask them before you stop.
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
For more, read when should you stop using a skincare product.
What should you keep?
Keep the products you use and your skin is comfortable with. If two do the same job, keep the one you reach for and put the other in the check pile. For help deciding whether to replace something, read should you upgrade a skincare product you already use. Once your shelf is sorted, read how do you build a skincare routine from the products you already own to add one new product at a time.
What do dermatologists say about fewer products?
"More is not more in this case, and consistency matters more than a 10-step routine." Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, American Academy of Dermatology, 28 October 2025
Dr. Garshick was talking about routines for tweens and teens. The AAD gives similar advice on its anti-aging page: "Start with one product" (AAD).
How do you store what you keep?
Keep it away from heat. The FDA says not to leave cosmetics "where they are exposed to heat, such as in a hot car" (FDA). It also says to "Keep containers and applicators clean."
How to check this on your own shelf
Oleah is our iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, and each morning you take a quick face scan that takes about 30 seconds. Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job. There is a check-in on day 3, a report on day 7 and a report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan in the morning.
Related: what does a simple skincare routine include? and how do you read a skincare ingredient list?
Questions people ask
How do you build a skincare routine? Start with what you already own. Keep what you use and your skin is comfortable with, and drop what is past its date, has changed or stings.
Do skincare products expire? Some carry a date or a period after opening symbol. The FDA says US law does not require cosmetics to have expiration dates, but sunscreen, as a drug, must have one.
How long does sunscreen last? The AAD says the FDA requires sunscreens to keep their original strength for at least three years. Throw it out once the expiration date has passed.
How do I know if a skincare product has gone off? Look for separation and changes in colour, texture or smell. The FDA lists these among the changes that happen to cosmetics over time.
What if my skin feels sore after a product? If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology, "How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care products". https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/maximize-anti-aging-products. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- US Food and Drug Administration, "Shelf Life and Expiration Dating of Cosmetics". https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/shelf-life-and-expiration-dating-cosmetics. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, "Consumer products: cosmetics". https://www.gov.uk/guidance/consumer-products-cosmetics. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Business Companion (Trading Standards), "Cosmetic products". https://www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/product-safety/cosmetic-products. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology, "Sunscreen FAQs". https://www.aad.org/media/stats-sunscreen. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- American Academy of Dermatology, "A dermatologist's guide to skincare from growing up to glowing up", 28 October 2025. https://www.aad.org/news/dermatologist-guide-skincare. Accessed 31 October 2026.
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
