The Useful Kind

Beauty · Skincare

Do Skincare Products Expire?

Skincare and makeup can change over time. Learn what PAO symbols, expiration dates and smell, color or texture changes can tell you.

Published
July 21, 2026

Yes, skincare and makeup can expire or become past their best. The tricky part is that cosmetic expiration is not always shown as one simple date.

Skincare can be past its best even if there is no obvious printed expiration date. The safest plan is to follow the package, track opening dates, store products properly, and throw products away if they change.

Quick answer

Skincare and makeup can change over time. FDA says a cosmetic’s shelf life means the length of time a product can be expected to look and act as expected and stay safe for use.

The package may show:

  • a printed expiration date;
  • a PAO, or period-after-opening, symbol such as 6M, 12M or 24M;
  • storage directions;
  • warnings; or
  • no obvious date at all.

PAO and expiration date are not the same thing. A PAO symbol usually tells you how long to use a product after opening. A printed expiration date is a different label cue, and it may matter especially for products regulated as drugs, such as sunscreens or some acne products.

Smell, color, texture, separation or foreign material can be practical red flags. When in doubt, throw it out.

Do skincare products really expire?

Yes. Skincare and makeup can become past their best, even though not every cosmetic package has a printed expiration date.

FDA says there are no U.S. regulations or requirements that require cosmetic manufacturers to print expiration dates on cosmetic labels. Cosmetic firms are responsible for product safety, and the length of time a cosmetic can be used safely depends on factors such as the product, storage and how consumers use it.

That means expiration is not one universal clock. A sealed powder compact, an opened cream in a jar, a mascara, a sunscreen and a lip product are not all the same situation.

Expiration date vs PAO symbol

PAO and expiration date are not the same thing.

An expiration date, when present, is a printed date. It may apply to products that are regulated differently from ordinary cosmetics. FDA says drug products, such as some sunscreens and acne treatments, must be safe and effective until their expiration dates.

A PAO symbol is the small open-jar icon with a number and “M,” such as 12M. It usually tells you the suggested period of use after opening. If you want a deeper guide to that symbol, see makeup expiry symbols explained.

Neither clue replaces the product’s condition. If a product changes color, smell or texture, or looks contaminated, do not keep using it just because the calendar seems favorable.

Opened vs unopened products

Opened and unopened products are not the same.

An unopened product may be less exposed to air, fingers, brushes, water and repeated temperature changes. Once opened, use and storage become part of the product’s real life.

FDA notes that how long a cosmetic may be used safely also depends on consumer use. For example, using a product with unwashed hands, leaving a cap loose, sharing makeup, or storing it in heat can change the picture.

This does not mean every opened product becomes unsafe quickly. It means “opened” matters. If you forget when you opened products, the Makeup Expiry Calculator can help estimate timing from a PAO symbol.

Why storage matters

Storage can affect a product before or after opening.

FDA says temperature changes and exposure to sunlight and air can cause changes in color and texture and may cause products to smell. FDA’s safe-use guidance also recommends keeping cosmetic containers clean and tightly closed when not in use, and protecting cosmetics from temperature extremes.

Simple storage habits help:

  • close lids tightly;
  • keep containers clean;
  • avoid leaving products in hot cars or direct sun;
  • avoid adding water or saliva to products;
  • wash hands before using cosmetics; and
  • follow the package directions and warnings.

These habits are boring in the best way: they reduce avoidable problems without turning product care into a full-time hobby.

Signs a product may be past its best

Smell, color, texture, separation or foreign material can be practical red flags.

FDA advises throwing away cosmetics if the color or smell changes. It also notes that consumers may report problems such as bad smell, color change or foreign material in the product.

Consider replacing or discarding a product if you notice:

  • a new or unpleasant smell;
  • a color change;
  • a texture change;
  • unusual separation;
  • drying, clumping or crumbling that is not normal for the product;
  • foreign material in the container; or
  • an unexpected reaction after use.

Do not try to rescue a changed product by mixing in water, oil or another product unless the label specifically directs it. Follow the package.

What about sunscreen?

Sunscreen deserves its own rule: follow the expiration date and label directions.

FDA’s sunscreen guidance says sunscreens must retain their original strength for at least three years. It also says to throw away sunscreen that is past its expiration date, and if there is no expiration date, to throw away sunscreen that has been purchased more than three years ago.

FDA also advises not exposing sunscreen containers to direct sun and protecting them from excessive heat.

So do not use ordinary cosmetic PAO logic to override sunscreen expiration guidance. If you are planning sun exposure, the Sun Protection Advisor can help you think through today’s UV forecast, and SPF in makeup vs sunscreen explains why makeup SPF should not automatically replace sunscreen.

What about eye products and mascara?

Eye products deserve extra caution.

FDA’s shelf-life Q&A says some industry experts recommend replacing mascara three months after purchase because of repeated microbial exposure during use and risk of eye infections. FDA also says if you have an eye infection, you should consult a healthcare provider, stop using eye-area cosmetics, and throw away those you were using when the infection occurred.

FDA’s safe-use guidance also advises not sharing makeup. That matters especially around the eyes.

This is not a reason to panic about every eye product. It is a reason to be practical: keep eye products clean, do not share them, and replace products that are old, changed or linked to a problem.

How to track opened products

The easiest system is the one you will actually use.

Try one of these:

  • write the opening month on the product with a fine marker;
  • add a small sticker to the package;
  • keep a short note in your phone;
  • photograph the product when you first open it;
  • use the Makeup Expiry Calculator for PAO-based estimates; or
  • keep fewer duplicate products open at the same time.

Tracking is especially useful for products you do not finish quickly, such as backups, seasonal shades, special-occasion makeup, strong actives, eye products or sunscreen bottles that migrate between bags.

For label-reading basics, see how to read a skincare ingredient list.

How to store products better

Good storage does not make a product last forever, but it can help the product stay closer to its expected condition.

Practical habits:

  • keep caps and lids tightly closed;
  • store products away from heat and direct sunlight;
  • wash hands before applying products from jars;
  • avoid sharing makeup;
  • do not use saliva to moisten eye cosmetics;
  • keep applicators reasonably clean; and
  • follow the package directions.

If you are introducing a new product, patch test it when practical, keep the rest of your routine simple, and watch how your skin responds. For routine order, see the correct order for a morning skincare routine.

Practical takeaway

Skincare and makeup can expire, change or become past their best. Cosmetic expiration is not always shown as one simple date.

Use a practical checklist:

  • check the package;
  • follow directions and warnings;
  • note when you open products;
  • store them away from heat, sunlight and air exposure when practical;
  • treat eye products with extra caution;
  • follow sunscreen expiration guidance; and
  • throw products away if they change.

Label terms such as fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and oil-free can be useful, but they do not replace safe product handling. For label context, see fragrance-free vs unscented, what hypoallergenic means, what non-comedogenic means, and oil-free vs non-comedogenic.

For a real complexion-product example, see the Catrice Skin Like Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 review.

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