Crisp fruits, sensational florals, mouth-watering baked goods: we all have a fave fragrance (or ten) and love the instant-happiness boost you get when you put on your signature lotion in the morning. Hello, all-day joy and confidence! We need a lot more independent research on the potential health effects of these types of dyes, but many of the studies that have been done so far have linked them to hyperactivity and/or hypersensitivity in children and cancer/tumor growth (from DNA damage and cell mutation). Sulfates Not only that, but as “penetration enhancers,” they can also increase the how much of other ingredients your body absorbs, which means they can make other bad ingredients (like phthalates, for example) even worse. The smell may become more intense or less potent, depending on how long it has been past its expiration date.

Generally, the manufacturer recommends using their Bath & Body Works lotion within 2–3 years of opening it. It all starts with exfoliation. Our body scrubs buff away dead skins (and bad moods), leaving you soft, smooth and primed for the rest of your body care routine. And while yes, you may associate Bath & Body Works scents with your middle school days (please tell us we weren’t the only ones dousing ourselves in Cucumber Melon Body Mist after gym class), today’s fragrance portfolio is not only extensive but also much more sophisticated than you may initially think.In this article, I’ll talk you through the shelf life of Bath and Body Works lotions and discuss some tips on how to extend their use. However, they do add that “Specific manufacturing information is proprietary because we own the rights to the product and formula.” Usually, the word “proprietary” is a yellow flag because it basically means “secret.” Companies will often use the fact that they don’t want other brands to steal from them as an excuse to keep information secret for customers. As discussed earlier in this article, we believe consumers deserve to know this type of information about the products they buy.

This means that every single Bath & Body Works product (since they all contain “fragrance”) can potentially contain any number of these types of ingredients and you’d never know it ( unless you actually tested it). Parabens Ingredients like methylparaben and butylparaben are also commonly used as preservatives in many Bath and Body Works products. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors, which means that, like phthalates, they can mess with the natural hormone function of one’s body. For this reason, they’re associated with a number of negative health outcomes, including cancer and fertility problems. Artificial Colors & Dyes This timeline may vary depending on how frequently you use the product, as well as environmental factors such as heat or extreme moisture. Most of Bath and Body Works’ candles are made with paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. When it’s burned, paraffin releases toxins in the air. We won’t dive deep into this part here in this article because we’ve got a separate article about it here. Is Bath and Body Works a Sustainable or Eco-Friendly Brand?

About Body Lotion from Bath & Body Works

On top of that, consumers still don’t have access to all of Bath & Body Works’ ingredients, and that’s because of what’s called the fragrance loophole. We’ll talk about that next… Bath and Body Works Ingredients: Top Ingredients of Concern The expiration date for lotions is an incredibly important factor to consider when purchasing any type of skin care product. Scented Candles (We actually have an entire article about whether or not Bath and Body Works candles are toxic, and why.) The brand is well-known for offering its scents in both the home fragrance and personal fragrance space but not each scent comes in every type of product. So if you find a scent you love, just bear in mind that it may not come in both a candle and a body wash, necessarily (though many do). Shoppers can generally expect excellent results from their bottle of Bath & Body Works lotion for up to three years post-opening date.