In this article:
Is it okay to use expired cosmetics?
All beauty products expire
How to check the expiry date of cosmetics
Shelf life
What is PAO = Period After Opening
How to spot a beauty product gone bad – the basics
Cheat sheet for when to toss
How long do makeup products last after opening?
How long do skin care products last after opening?
How long do Paula’s Choice Skincare products last?
How to make your beauty products last longer
What to do with expired beauty products
We’ve all been there. You can’t bear to toss out that half-used, expensive moisturiser you bought a year ago, or you have an ancient lipstick that you’re not ready to part ways with because someday, yes, you will have an occasion to wear it again.
Well, it’s time to cut the emotional cord to that twelve-year-old eyeshadow palette and put it in the garbage. Hanging on to beauty products past their prime isn’t doing your skin any favours and, in fact, might actually be causing the very problems you’re trying to remedy. Let’s walk through what you need to know about when to hold onto beauty and skin care products and when to fold them.
Is it okay to use expired cosmetics?
Using expired cosmetics can compromise your skin barrier and exacerbate the skin concerns, like redness, dryness and blemishes, that you’re trying to tackle. With time, the preservative systems in cosmetics become weak, allowing harmful substances to flourish. Preservative systems can also become compromised in extreme circumstances, like steady exposure to intense sunlight and abnormally warm temperatures.
However, many cosmetics users aren’t aware of this. A 2013 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science evaluated the makeup routines and habits of women, and the results were more than a little cringe-worthy (1). 70% of women in the study used some type of expired product—mostly eye makeup (mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow). The researchers sampled the eye makeup for contamination and found that 67% were contaminated! Yikes!
All beauty products expire
The tricky thing is that only products regulated as over-the-counter drugs (things like sunscreen and anti-blemish products) have official expiration dates indicated on their packaging.
For other beauty products, you’re left to do the detective work (don’t worry, we’re getting to that part) with shelf life and PAO (Period After Opening). Coming up with an expiration date is dependent upon a few things, including what kind of product it is, how it’s packaged, where you keep the product and when you first use the product, which brings us to…
How to check the expiry date of cosmetics
Checking the expiration date of cosmetics requires some work- and in some cases, a sniff test. To determine if your cosmetic product is expired keep an eye out for shelf life, PAO, batch codes and sensorial changes.
Shelf life
Shelf life begins when the product is packaged and ready to hit the shelves of the retailer. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t start the day you buy a cosmetic and depends on the product remaining unopened. Where it gets tricky is that shelf life isn’t commonly listed on products, so determining it requires reaching out to a brand or visiting their online help centre.
Once shelf life is determined, grab your product and head over to the brand's help centre to check cosmetic batch codes and determine production date. The batch code is often listed as a series of numbers (sometimes they include letters - Paula's Choice does!) printed or stamped on the bottom of packaging. If the product’s shelf life is two years but its batch code reveals it was produced three years ago, it’s got to go!
Let's walk through an example. The shelf life for Paula’s Choice 2% BHA product is three years. That means it remains fresh for three years as long as it’s unopened. The batch code printed on the bottom of the bottle determines that a specific 2% BHA exfoliant was produced one year ago. This means the products can exist for another two whole years, unopened!
However, once you open a product, shelf life gets thrown out the window. That’s where PAO comes in...
What is PAO = Period After Opening
Many beauty products carry a PAO symbol (a number followed by an M and an open jar icon) on their packaging or carton. Although not a 100% sure bet, the PAO symbol tells you how many months after opening a product it should be thrown away. For example, a “12M” would mean you should throw the product out 12 months after you've opened it. It’s a very good idea to follow that direction, especially for water-based formulas which are more prone to time-based degradation!
Unfortunately, this information is often on the box, so once you’ve tossed it you won’t remember the expiry date, and even if it is on the container itself, once you’ve started using it you likely won’t remember exactly when you first opened it.
Consider using a permanent marker to indicate the date opened on the bottom or back of the package (this can be even more helpful than relying on the PAO date anyway) or snapping a photo of the carton with the PAO information.
All of this is especially important for skin care, because in addition to the safety aspect, if the product contains antioxidants, skin-replenishing ingredients, etc. (as it should), they will eventually start to deteriorate, since even in the best packaging they just don’t last forever.
@paulaschoice How to tell if a skin care product is expired: the PAO symbol! A PAO symbol tells you how many months after opening a product, it should be thrown away. You’ll see it on your product’s packaging as a number followed by an M & an open jar icon. For example, a “12M” would mean you should throw the product out 12 months after you've opened it. 🤯 #PaulasChoice #Beautypedia #Skincare101 #SkincareEducation #Skintok #BHA ♬ original sound - Paula’s Choice
How to spot a beauty product gone bad – the basics
Cosmetics and skin care products might exhibit sensorial changes when they age or expire. This is when it’s time to put your eyes and nose to use! Keep an eye out for the following to help determine whether a product is fit for use or not:
- Changes in colour
- Product separation or changes in texture (runniness, clumps, lumps, graininess)
- Alterations to odour or a foul smell
- Products labelled “preservative-free” because contamination happens in a much quicker manner
- Emollient or liquid textured products; as these get contaminated far faster than powders
Cheat sheet for when to toss
While product types vary in their toss dates, so do the conditions that they are stored in. If you’ve been good about keeping the product away from air and light, the container keeps your fingers out of the product, you never let them sit in your car on a hot day, and you don’t share the product (even with family members) you can follow the longest out use-by-date.
How long do makeup products last after opening?
Makeup products can last anywhere from three months to three years:
- Mascara (regular or waterproof) and eyeliner: 3 to 6 months (always toss out dry mascara—never add water to extend its life)
- Cream, liquid or stick foundations/concealers: 6 months to 1 year
- Powder-based products (including blush, bronzer, etc.): 2 to 3 years
- Eyeshadows (all types): 1–2 years, with powder shadows lasting longest
- Lipstick, gloss and lip pencils: 2 to 3 years
How long do skin care products last after opening?
Skin care products generally remain “good” for six months to three years:
- Cleansers, body washes and scrubs: 1 year
- Toners: 6 months to 1 year
- BHA or AHA exfoliants: 1 year
- Facial or body moisturisers and serums: 6 months to 1 year
- Eye creams, gels, or treatments: 6 months to 1 year
- Lip balm: 1 year
How long do Paula’s Choice Skincare products last?
Paula’s Choice Skincare products follow the general standard of skin care and cosmetic shelf lives. Checking a specific Paula’s Choice products’ shelf life and PAO is as easy as visiting our Help Centre articles on Paula’s Choice expiry dates and shelf life. There you can find the answers to questions like “Does Paula’s Choice BHA expire?”.
How to make your beauty products last longer
Tired of watching as products you spent your money on curdle and become unusable? Use these guidelines to extend the shelf life of your products, help prolong their skin safety and get the best bang for your buck.
- Store products in a cabinet or drawer that remains dark (away from direct sun) and room temperature.
- Wash your hands before using products to reduce possible contamination. The microogranisms on your hands can transfer to your products.
- Don’t "pump" your mascara. This invites extra air into the packaging.
- Tighten/secure the caps and lids after each use to discourage exposure to air.
- Consider how climate and humidity will shorten a product's shelf life.
- Toss out eye products after you've had an eye infection.
- Abide by the expiration dates on sunscreens, blemish products and prescription products.
- Avoid buying products packaged in jars of any kind. Jar packaging isn’t ideal for a number of reasons, including the fact that it carries a high risk of contamination due to dipping your fingers in the formula.
- Don’t store your products in the refrigerator. Skin care formulas are designed to withstand the average fluctuations in temperature in your home, but not long-term heat or cold storage—that means keeping your products in your fridge (or in your car on a hot day) will shorten their lifespan and stability. One exception to this rule is water-based ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C). Research has shown that storing these specific types of formulations in the refrigerator can help prolong stability and delay colour change (2). But despite this fact, you still need to consider whether the other ingredients in your vitamin C treatment, serum or booster can safely withstand prolonged cold temps.
- Refrain from sharing your makeup and skin care products with others.
- It's tempting, but don’t add water or saliva to thin out or remoisten products. This can cause contamination and disturb preservative systems.
- Clean caps or lids if you drop them on the floor. Use soap and water or rubbing alcohol and dry thoroughly before replacing.
And remember, if it smells off, looks gunky or the texture has changed significantly—err on the side of caution and toss it out!
What to do with expired beauty products
Recycling isn’t just for skin care and product empties; you should recycle your expired products too! The recycling process requires a few steps and can vary state-to-state and country-to-country. To learn more about recycling, check out our guide to recycling beauty products.
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References for this information:
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, August 2013, pages 375-380
- Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, September 2021, pages 1-10
