When Does Your Skincare Expire?
The PAO symbol — that little open-jar icon on your products — tells you how long a product is safe after opening. 12M means 12 months; 6M means 6 months. But tracking it across a full shelf is harder than it sounds. Enter your products below for an instant expiry audit: exact dates, days remaining, and a clear signal for what to use up or throw out.
Add an opening date to calculate expiry. Unopened, most cosmetics keep for about 2–3 years from manufacture — check the packaging.
Expiry is calculated from the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol on your packaging added to your opening date. It’s a guide, not a guarantee — trust changes in smell, colour or texture over any date. This is not medical advice.
What is the PAO symbol?
The PAO (Period After Opening) symbol is the small open-jar icon on cosmetic packaging, followed by a number and an M — like 12M for twelve months. It tells you how long the product stays safe and effective after you first open it. It’s legally required on cosmetics in the EU (EC Regulation 1223/2009) and used by most brands worldwide. Find it on the back or base of the packaging, usually near the ingredient list.
How long does skincare last after opening?
The PAO is the guide, but some products age faster than their label suggests. Vitamin C serums oxidise quickly once air gets in — a colour shift to orange or brown is your cue. Retinol degrades with light and air, so packaging matters. And sunscreen’s protection becomes unreliable past its PAO, which is the one product where “close enough” isn’t. Across the board, trust changes in smell, colour and texture over any printed date.
Frequently asked questions
What if my product doesn’t have a PAO symbol?
PAO labelling isn’t legally required everywhere (it is in the EU, not the US). If there’s no open-jar icon, use a sensible default: 6–12 months for water-based products and actives, up to 24 months for oil-based or anhydrous ones — and trust your senses over any number.
Does skincare expire if unopened?
Yes, but slowly. Unopened, most cosmetics keep for about 2–3 years from manufacture. The PAO clock only starts once you break the seal and air, light and fingers get in — which is why this tracker needs your opening date.
How do I know if a product has gone bad?
Changes in smell, colour, or texture are the real signals — separation, a sour or “off” odour, or a colour shift (vitamin C serums turning orange/brown is a classic). If any of those appear, stop using it even if the date says it’s fine.
Can expired skincare cause breakouts?
It can. Degraded preservatives let bacteria grow, and oxidised oils and actives can irritate or clog — which may show up as breakouts or a stressed barrier. When in doubt, throw it out.
Does SPF expire?
Yes, and it matters more than most products — expired sunscreen loses reliability, so you get less protection than the label promises. Track its PAO here, and check real-world wear time separately. See the SPF Duration Calculator.