Skincare expiration date checker: how long does it last after opening?
Pick the product and the day you opened it. Get a use-by date, what the open-jar symbol means, and the signs it’s time to toss it.
The open-jar symbol (PAO), explained
Look for a little open jar with a number and “M” on the back of the pack or the box. That’s the period after opening: 12M means use it within 12 months of opening it. An hourglass symbol or “EXP” next to a date means an expiration date, which counts whether it’s open or not.
How long skincare lasts after opening
Rough estimates when there’s no symbol: real shelf life depends on the formula and how it’s stored. Keeping products closed, cool and out of the sun helps them last.
| Product | After opening |
|---|---|
| Sunscreen | 12 months* |
| Vitamin C serum | 3 months |
| Retinol or retinal serum or cream | 6 months |
| Other serum (niacinamide, hyaluronic acid…) | 12 months |
| Exfoliating acid (AHA or BHA toner or serum) | 12 months |
| Acne gel or cream (benzoyl peroxide, adapalene) | 12 months* |
| Moisturizer in a tube or pump | 12 months |
| Moisturizer in a jar | 6 months |
| Eye cream | 6 months |
| Face wash | 12 months |
| Cleansing oil or balm | 12 months |
| Micellar water | 12 months |
| Toner or essence | 12 months |
| Face oil | 6 months |
| Clay or wash-off mask | 12 months |
| Lip balm | 12 months |
| Body lotion | 12 months |
| Preservative-free product | 3 months |
| Mascara or liquid eyeliner | 3 months |
| Liquid foundation or concealer | 12 months |
* Or the expiration date on the pack, if that comes first.
Signs it’s gone off
- It smells off or different.
- The color changes.
- It separates and won’t mix back.
- The texture turns lumpy, grainy or watery.
- Vitamin C serum turns noticeably darker than when you opened it, such as deep orange or brown.
- Face oils and balms smell like old cooking oil.
Not sure what to keep? Check any label with the ingredient checker, or see if two products clash with Can I mix these?
Sources: the period-after-opening symbol and the 30-month best-before rule come from the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19. Sunscreen expiration dates follow the US FDA. Typical times are common guidance; your pack’s own symbol or date always comes first.
Questions
What does the open jar symbol mean on skincare?
It’s the period-after-opening (PAO) symbol: an open jar with a number and M, like 6M or 12M. It means the product is good for that many months after you first open it.
How long does skincare last after opening?
Most cleansers, toners, serums and moisturizers in a pump last about 12 months. Jars, eye creams, retinol and face oils last about 6 months, and vitamin C serum, mascara and preservative-free products about 3. The symbol on your pack wins.
Does sunscreen expire?
Yes. In the US, sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug. Use it by the expiration date on the pack. If there isn’t one, treat it as good for 3 years from when you bought it.
How do I know if my vitamin C serum has gone bad?
It turns noticeably darker than when you opened it, such as deep orange or brown. That means the vitamin C has oxidized and does less, so it’s time for a new bottle.
How long does unopened skincare last?
Often around 3 years if it’s kept cool and out of the sun. In the EU, any product that lasts less than 30 months has to show a best-before date. Products with an expiration date should go by that.
Is it bad to use expired skincare?
Expired products can work less well, and once the preservatives weaken, germs can grow in them, which can irritate skin. If it smells, looks or feels different, replace it.
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