Makeup expiry and PAO symbols: when products should be replaced
The open-jar period-after-opening symbol is a safety period after first use, not a promise that every product remains perfect until its final day. A dated minimum-durability mark, PAO, storage instructions, product changes and contamination risk must be read together.
In this guide
Date the first opening and inspect use, not just the calendar
Photograph the label, write the opening month on a removable sticker and follow the shortest applicable instruction. Replace a product sooner if smell, texture, colour, separation, packaging or eye and skin response changes. Never add water, share eye products or treat sanitising the surface as a reset of the PAO.
This guide covers ordinary cosmetics and makeup storage, not diagnosis or personalised medical advice. Stop using a product that causes a concerning reaction and seek appropriate professional help. A product under recall should not be used regardless of its date.
Read minimum durability and PAO differently
Great Britain cosmetics with minimum durability of 30 months or less require a best-before indication. Products lasting more than 30 months generally use a period-after-opening symbol where deterioration after opening could harm the consumer. The open jar is followed by a period such as a number of months.
The PAO begins when the product is first opened for use, not when it was bought. The UK cosmetics-label guide explains the responsible-person address, ingredient list, precautions, batch code and other information that should be assessed alongside durability.
| Mark or evidence | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Best-before date | Minimum durability for a shorter-life product under stated storage | Do not use beyond it without authoritative product advice |
| Open jar plus months | Period considered safe after first opening | Record the opening date and calculate the end month |
| Storage instruction | Condition needed to preserve the stated durability | Follow temperature, light and closure requirements |
| Batch code | Manufacturing traceability reference | Retain it for safety alerts or manufacturer questions |
| Unexpected change | Possible instability or contamination | Stop and investigate even within the stated period |
Makeup opening record
- Product name and shade.
- Batch code and any best-before date.
- PAO period exactly as marked.
- Date first opened for use.
- Storage location and unusual heat exposure.
- Applicator type and whether it touches skin directly.
- Any change in smell, colour, texture or performance.
Why the container changes risk
A pump or narrow nozzle limits direct contact more than a wide jar. Mascara and liquid eyeliner applicators return from the eye area into the formula. Pots invite finger or brush contact. Loose powder is dry but can still collect oils and moisture through tools.
Packaging therefore affects hygiene but does not create a new official PAO. Do not transfer makeup into an unlabelled pot unless necessary for immediate use: it separates the product from instructions, batch code and date evidence.
Eye products deserve stricter handling
Do not share mascara, liquid liner or products used on the waterline. Avoid pumping a mascara wand, which can move air through the container. Do not dilute a drying formula with water, saliva, oil or drops unless the manufacturer explicitly instructs it for that exact product.
After an eye infection, follow professional advice and consider tools and products that contacted the area. A wiped wand does not prove the formula inside is uncontaminated. Persistent redness, swelling, pain or vision symptoms need prompt clinical assessment.
Powders still need clean tools
Pressed powder, blush and eyeshadow often show long PAO periods, but oil, moisture and dirty brushes can change their surface. Wash tools according to material and manufacturer guidance, allow them to dry fully and avoid storing damp brushes in a closed pouch.
A hard shiny film can reflect transferred oil rather than prove the entire pan is unsafe, but scraping or spraying does not extend the marked period. If odour, colour, mould-like growth or irritation appears, discard the product.
Lip products combine contact and heat exposure
Lipsticks, pencils, glosses and balms touch lips repeatedly. Twist-up sticks can sweat or soften in heat; gloss applicators return to the tube. Keep caps secure, sharpen pencils with a clean sharpener and avoid leaving products in hot cars or direct sun.
Changes in wax smell, drag, beading, separation or taste are reasons to stop. Do not share a directly applied lip product. A disposable applicator is only protective if it is never dipped twice.
Foundation and concealer need formula-specific care
Water-containing liquid products can change in viscosity, odour, colour and emulsion. Some settling may be expected if the maker says to shake; separation that no longer recombines is different. Keep bottle necks clean without introducing water.
Do not use a change in coverage as the only expiry test because skin preparation, tools and weather also affect performance. Combine label, opening date, storage and physical changes.
Storage can shorten real-world usability
Bathrooms experience heat and humidity; window sills receive light; handbags and cars cycle through temperatures. “Cool, dry place” is a functional instruction, not decoration. Close lids promptly and keep products away from radiators and direct sun.
If a product experienced unusual heat, freezing or water ingress, ask the manufacturer using the batch code. Do not assume that returning it to room temperature restores stability.
Check authenticity and seller information
Missing English information, unclear function, absent responsible-person details or suspicious packaging should pause a purchase. Use the genuine-shop checklist before buying from an unfamiliar site, and retain the listing and invoice.
A low price does not prove a fake, but old, diverted or counterfeit stock can undermine traceability. The online-purchase documentation guide shows what evidence to save before a product page changes.
Do not buy more than the PAO can support
A large palette or backup set is poor value if several products are open simultaneously and cannot be used within their periods. Estimate realistic uses, not ideal daily use. Consider smaller sizes where hygiene and variation matter more than price per gram.
The shortlisting method helps remove duplicate functions. Choose one base, one frequently used lip format or a compact colour set before adding novelty shades.
Tools have their own hygiene cycle
Brushes, sponges, puffs, sharpeners and mixing palettes are separate from the cosmetic’s PAO. Clean them with a method suitable for their material and use, rinse where appropriate, and dry completely in a clean ventilated place. A damp sponge stored in a sealed bag can create a problem even when the foundation remains within date.
Do not return a used disposable applicator to the product. Replace cracked sponges, shedding brushes and damaged puffs that cannot be cleaned effectively. Keep eye tools separate during an infection or professional treatment and follow clinical advice rather than a social-media cleaning hack.
Run a quarterly label audit
Every few months, gather open products, compare the opening record with best-before and PAO information, and check packaging and formula in daylight. Group items by action: keep, investigate, stop using or dispose through an appropriate local route. Do not pour cosmetics into drains or assume every component belongs in household recycling.
For a suspected defect or safety issue, retain the product, packaging, batch and purchase evidence described in the online purchase-record guide. A tidy photograph of the batch and change is more useful than continuing to apply the product to demonstrate the problem.
Returns and safety problems are different routes
A sealed cosmetic may have different change-of-mind treatment from one opened for hygiene reasons. Faulty, unsafe or misdescribed goods are not the same issue as simply changing your mind. Read the UK cosmetics returns guide before breaking seals when uncertain.
For a suspected unsafe product, stop using it, preserve packaging and batch details, photograph the issue and consult the official Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls service. Do not continue testing it to build evidence.
Keep using when
- The date or PAO remains current.
- Storage followed the stated conditions.
- Formula, packaging and use remain normal.
- Tools and contact practices are hygienic.
Stop and replace when
- The applicable durability period has ended.
- Smell, colour, texture or packaging changes.
- Contamination, sharing or water ingress occurred.
- A reaction, recall or safety warning applies.
Balanced verdict
Makeup durability is a labelled safety framework supported by hygiene and observation. The PAO is not an invitation to use a changed product until the final day, nor should vague internet replacement calendars override the exact label.
Record opening dates, keep traceability, reduce unnecessary contact and replace selectively. A smaller, well-managed collection is usually safer and better value than many partly used products with forgotten dates.
Check current official information:
GOV.UK consumer products: cosmeticsGOV.UK cosmetics labelling guidanceUK Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls
Frequently asked questions
What does 12M in an open jar mean?
It indicates a 12-month period after first opening under the product’s stated conditions.
Does PAO start on the purchase date?
No. It starts when the product is first opened for use.
Can I use unopened makeup after several years?
Check its best-before information, storage, packaging and manufacturer advice. Unopened does not mean indefinite.
Can alcohol spray reset a powder’s expiry?
No. Surface treatment does not reset the labelled period or prove the whole product is safe.
Should I add water to dry mascara?
No, unless the manufacturer explicitly instructs this for that exact formula.
What if I cannot find a PAO symbol?
Check for a best-before date, leaflet or exceptions and ask the responsible person or manufacturer; do not invent a period.
How we researched this guide
Recommended Today reviewed current Great Britain cosmetics safety and labelling guidance, then mapped durability, packaging, contamination, storage, traceability and replacement decisions across common makeup formats.
Limitations
We did not microbiologically test products, diagnose reactions or set universal replacement dates. Formulas and instructions vary. Recheck the exact label and official alerts before purchase. The image is an editorial illustration, not a photograph from a product test.