Malaysia is warm and humid all year, and both of those things work against anything kept in a bottle. Storage will not change what a product is, but it does affect how well it keeps between the day you open it and the day you finish it.

Heat

Most labels ask for storage below 30°C. That rules out a car dashboard, a windowsill, and the cupboard directly above a stove. A shelf in an air-conditioned room, or any spot away from appliances that give off heat, is usually fine.

Humidity

The bathroom is the most common storage spot and one of the worst, because a hot shower raises the humidity of the whole room several times a day. Capsules and tablets take up moisture from the air, which is why bottles often contain a small sachet of desiccant. Leave that sachet in the bottle, and close the cap firmly rather than resting it on top.

Light

Amber and opaque bottles are used because some ingredients are affected by light. Decanting a product into a clear container looks tidier and removes that protection, along with the label, the expiry date and the batch number. Keep products in their original packaging.

After opening

Some products carry a shorter period-after-opening than the printed expiry date, and refrigeration is occasionally specified. Both will be stated on the label if they apply.

When something looks different

A change in colour, smell or texture, or capsules that have stuck together, means the product has been exposed to more heat or moisture than it should have been. Do not take it. Contact us with the batch number and we will help.