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Store somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight. Cream in a jar spoils faster than cream in a pump.
Cosmetics expiry calculator
How long can you keep using an opened jar? Enter the PAO symbol from the packaging and the date you opened it, and the calculator sorts your products by what needs using up first.
What is PAO (Period After Opening)?
The open jar symbol with a number on the packaging (for example 12M) tells you how many months the product is safe to use after opening. Look for it on the back of the pack.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the PAO symbol mean?
- PAO stands for Period After Opening. The open jar symbol with a number – 6M, 12M, 24M – tells you how many months the product stays safe to use once you have opened it. You will find it on the back or the base of the packaging.
- Does the PAO apply from the date of purchase or of opening?
- From the date you first open the product. Unopened cosmetics keep until the manufacturer’s own expiry date, which is usually two to three years from production.
- What happens if I use expired cosmetics?
- Active ingredients lose potency and preservatives stop protecting against bacteria. In the best case the product simply stops working; in the worst case it causes irritation, an allergic reaction or an eye infection.
- Which products expire fastest?
- Mascara has the shortest life at around three months because of the infection risk to your eyes. Vitamin C serums and eye creams typically last six months. Perfume lasts the longest, up to three years.