By beautifulmadam

16/09/2022

Your makeup has an expiration date you probably didn't know existed

While many beauty products are made to stay on all day, they are not designed to last forever. Your makeup has an expiration date and you should know it.

Over time, you'll need to get rid of your favorite cosmetics and skin care products and replace them with new ones. After all, makeup loses its quality, becomes more difficult to apply, and can even become harmful to the skin and cause infections as a result of bacteria buildup from use.

Fortunately, determining when to throw away your beauty products is simple: just look at the packaging.

There are little symbols on product labels that indicate how long your products will keep after opening; but they are so small that you may not have noticed them.

Look for the icon of the open cream jar, known as the PAO or 'Period After Open' symbol

The icon includes the number of months a product is safe to use after it has been open.

PAO was introduced on cosmetic labels in 2005 by the European Commission. This requires that all cosmetic products with a shelf life of 30 months or more have the symbol. Products that have a shelf life of less than 30 months must include the minimum shelf life or expiration date on the label.

Your makeup has an expiration date that you probably didn't know it existed

While the United States currently does not require cosmetics to have an expiration date by law; the Food and Drug Administration holds manufacturers responsible for ensuring their products are safe to use.

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That's why when you look in your makeup bag, you'll likely find the symbol on almost all of your cosmetics.

The expiration date of your makeup varies between different cosmetics

I raided my makeup bag to demonstrate how long certain products last compared to others. Face products, such as foundation, primer, and blush, will generally last up to 24 months after opening. I'll have to throw out my favorite Yves Saint Laurent blush in two years.

Same goes for my Clinique daily foundation. Because I use it frequently, it won't take long to finish it.

Meanwhile, lip products should be discarded sooner, usually after a year. This PAO icon at the bottom of my colleague's Tarte lipstick is so small you can barely see it.

And the mascara needs to be changed more regularly. While the ODP in my Tarte mascara says it will last up to 12 months, the FDA recommends getting rid of the mascara after it dries to prevent eye irritation.

In fact, my partner's CoverGirl mascara has a shorter shelf life of six months.

In addition, you will find the symbol on your skin care products. For example, this Caudalie toner can be used for nine months.

Even my Caudalie eye cream has a shorter shelf life compared to other products, just six months.

Now, start digging through your makeup bag and drawers and throw out any products you used past their expiration date!

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