You find a mascara at the back of a drawer. It still looks fine, but you can’t remember when you opened it, or even which year you bought it. Most makeup does not come with a clear date, and once the box is gone there is very little left to go on.
This guide explains what the little open-jar symbol means, how the rules differ between the EU, the US and Japan, how long each type of product is commonly kept after opening, and when to toss something early.
The short answer: the date that matters is the day you opened it. Add the months on the jar, or a typical figure for that category if there is no symbol. All of these are guidelines, so anything that smells or looks different should go, whatever the date says.
It is written by the developer of MakeupStash, an iPhone app that works out expiry from the day you opened a product and sorts your makeup with the soonest first (view on the App Store).
What this guide covers
- What PAO and the 6M / 12M symbol mean
- Why many products in the US have no expiry date
- A PAO chart by product type
- Signs to toss a product early, and how to store makeup
What does 6M mean on makeup?
PAO stands for period after opening. It is the small open-jar symbol followed by a number and the letter M, and it tells you how many months a product is meant to be used once opened. “12M” means 12 months after opening [1].
Under EU rules, products with a minimum durability of more than 30 months carry this symbol. Products with a shorter life must show a date instead [1]. That is why you see the symbol so often on products sold in Europe.
Two things to remember:
- The clock starts when you open the product, not when you buy it
- Nothing on the jar records that day, so you have to keep track of it yourself
Do cosmetics legally need an expiry date?
It depends on where you are.
| Region | Rule |
|---|---|
| United States | No law requires cosmetics to have a specific shelf life. The FDA treats shelf life as the manufacturer’s responsibility [2] |
| European Union | A PAO symbol, or a best-before date for products lasting 30 months or less [1] |
| Japan | A use-by date is required only when quality can’t be guaranteed for three years [3] |
So a missing date doesn’t mean a product lasts forever. It only tells you about the rules where it was sold.
PAO chart by product type
The FDA notes that manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase, and that eye-area products tend to have shorter shelf lives than others [2]. Beyond that, figures vary by brand and by source.
The chart below shows the starting values used in MakeupStash. They are a cautious rule of thumb, not a manufacturer’s instruction or a safety guarantee. If the product shows its own PAO, use that.
| Product | Months after opening |
|---|---|
| Mascara, liquid eyeliner | 3 |
| Foundation, concealer | 6 |
| Lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm | 6 |
| Skincare, sunscreen | 6 |
| Primer, powder, blush, highlighter | 12 |
| Eyeshadow, pencil liner, brow products | 12 |
| Nail polish | 12 |
| Fragrance | 24 |
Signs to toss makeup early
The date is only a guide. Shelf life varies with the type of product, how you use it and how you store it [2]. Japanese beauty media advise letting a product go if it smells odd, changes color or separates, even before its date [4]. Consider tossing a product if:
- The smell has changed
- The color has changed
- The formula has separated
- Your mascara has dried out
The FDA says to throw away mascara that has dried, and not to add water or saliva, which introduces bacteria [2].
How to store makeup
- Keep it away from heat, such as a hot car [2]
- Close lids properly [4]
- Don’t share makeup, because you may be sharing an infection [2]
How to track when you opened a product
- Label it: write the date on a small sticker. Quick, but hard on tiny packaging, and you can’t see everything at once
- Keep a list: add an “opened” column to a makeup inventory spreadsheet, and you can sort by expiry
- Use an app: let it do the date math and sorting
Once you know what is expiring soon, you can decide what to finish first. Project Pan is a popular way to do that.
Tracking PAO in MakeupStash
In MakeupStash, picking a category fills in the PAO, and the opened date gives you the expiry. You can change the months for each product to match the jar, or add the printed date. For open products, the earlier date is used.
The Fresh tab lists your open products with the soonest first. Log the level now and then, and from 14 days after opening it shows whether you’re on track to finish in time. Reminders are optional and off until you turn them on.
Every feature is free for up to 30 products. Only In stock and Open products count, so finished, tossed, wishlist items and backups don’t. Pro is a one-time purchase that removes the limit and the watermark on share cards (view on the App Store).
Key takeaways
- 6M means six months after opening, counted from the day you open it
- US law doesn’t require expiry dates on cosmetics, so a missing date tells you little
- Mascara and liquid liner have the shortest life. Powders usually last longer
- Changes in smell, color or texture matter more than the date
- Nothing on the jar records the day you opened it, so write it down
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/1223/article/19 and Obelis, “Expiration date and PAO for cosmetics” https://www.obelis.net/news/expiration-date-and-pao-for-cosmetics/
- U.S. FDA, “Shelf Life and Expiration Dating of Cosmetics” https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/shelf-life-and-expiration-dating-cosmetics
- Daily Sports (Japan), interview with Kao on use-by dates (March 2023, Japanese) https://www.daily.co.jp/society/life/2023/03/01/0016095755.shtml
- Biteki.com, guide to cosmetics expiry (June 2022, Japanese) https://www.biteki.com/skin-care/trouble/471993
(All checked November 5, 2026)
About the sources for this article This article is based on information from public agencies, official sites and specialist media, reorganized by the editors from a recording and organizing perspective. Figures and statements about specifications or safety were checked against primary sources where possible.
This article organizes information from a recording and organizing perspective. For skin or eye problems, please consult a medical professional. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us. Last verified: November 2026
