Shelf life of carrying oils and butters

For me the hardest and most annoying part of making my own cosmetic products is that they have a short shelf life. Especially when it comes to making products with water, such as creams and lotions. Of course you can extend their life by storing them in a cold (fridge) and dark place (dark container, away from the sun), but this will only make them last a week or two longer.

There is a lot to say on the subject of preservatives and anti-oxidants (I will write about this at a later time), today though I would like to discuss the shelf life of carrying oils and butters, which might come in handy when making your own products. 

Butters:

Cocoa butter 2 - 5 years

Mango butter 2 - 3 years

Shea butter 2 years

Oils with the longest shelf life (up to 2 years):

Coconut oil

Jojoba oil

Camellia oil 

Oils with a shelf life of around 1 year:

Olive oil

Castor oil

Avocado oil

Apricot kernel oil

Hazelnut oil

Macadamia nut oil

Sweet almond oil

Oils with a shelf life of about 6 months:

Grapeseed oil

Sunflower oil

Wheat germ oil

Evening primrose oil

Rosehip oil

When using these butters and oils to make your own products be sure to use anti-oxidants (such as vitamin E or rosemary extract) to guarantee they stay good up until their expiration date.