Today's Bath and Body Works (28/7/2026)
u/WearingCoats on product shelf life and longevity
A large portion of product formulation involves testing a formula against its packaging. This part of the process can actually take months or weeks, and is just as much as part of the chemistry as picking and combining ingredients. This is because formulas can and DO interact with the chemical structure of the packaging they are put into. This occurs at the atomic level.
So, you can be sure that whatever package a BBW product comes in that it has been tested for chemical compatibility with the product itself to prevent corrosion and leaching, to maintain the stability/safety/sterility of the product, and to reduce surface area exposure to light, air, and humidity. The body cream tubes, for example, aren't like perfect vacuums, but they do limit the exposure of cream to air pretty well. Once you cut into them and decant a product, all the sudden you have way more chemical surface area exposed to light, air, ambient humidity, and any microbes on your hands and tools you use in the process.
Based on the ingredients alone, I wouldn't trust an open BBW cream past 9 to MAYBE 18 months in its original packaging. Unopened, maybe 3 years but I wouldn't be shocked if you had separation, spoilage, and fragrance shift by then.
On the rumoured Sally FFM (Thread on Nightmare Before Christmas leaks)
