On makeup and skincare packaging, 6M, 12M and 24M are usually Period After Opening, or PAO, symbols. They tell you roughly how long the product is intended to be used after first opening: 6M means six months, 12M means twelve months and 24M means twenty-four months. The number is often shown inside or beside a small open-jar symbol.
The key detail: the PAO clock starts after opening. It is not necessarily the unopened product’s printed expiry date, and it is not a promise that a product is fine no matter how it was stored or used. Label rules differ by region, so the safest habit is to read the local product label and watch for changes in the product itself.
Not sure when you opened something? Use the Makeup Expiry Calculator to estimate a replace-by date from the PAO symbol and opening date.
What the open-jar symbol means on makeup
The Period After Opening symbol is commonly shown as a small open jar with a number and the letter “M.” The “M” stands for months.
- 6M means six months after opening.
- 12M means twelve months after opening.
- 24M means twenty-four months after opening.
In the European Union, cosmetic labeling rules require a date of minimum durability for products with a shorter minimum durability period. For products with minimum durability of more than 30 months, EU rules generally require an indication of the period after opening for which the product can be used safely, except where the concept is not relevant.
That EU context matters. PAO labeling should not be described as a global legal requirement. A product sold in another region may use different label conventions, different wording or no open-jar symbol.
Common makeup expiry symbols at a glance
| Symbol | Plain-English meaning | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 3M | Usually means three months after opening. | Count three months from first opening. Eye products may also have shorter practical replacement advice. |
| 6M | Usually means six months after opening. | Mark the opening month if you will not remember it, especially for products used near the eyes or lips. |
| 12M | Usually means twelve months after opening. | This is a common PAO symbol on makeup, skincare and personal-care products. |
| 18M | Usually means eighteen months after opening. | Less common, but the same idea: count from first opening. |
| 24M | Usually means twenty-four months after opening. | Store and handle the product properly; replace it sooner if it changes. |
| 36M | Usually means thirty-six months after opening. | A longer PAO period does not override changes in smell, texture, color or performance. |
If you want the date worked out for you, use the Makeup Expiry Calculator after you find the PAO symbol and opening date.
PAO vs expiration date: what is the difference?
A printed expiration date or “best used before” style date relates to product durability before or regardless of opening, depending on the label. A PAO symbol starts counting after the product is opened.
For example, a sealed product may have a printed date on the box, while the tube or compact also has a 12M open-jar symbol. Once opened, the 12-month clock helps you judge use after opening, but the printed date and the product’s condition still matter.
Do not treat either label as a guarantee under poor storage. The FDA notes that cosmetic safety may expire before a date if a product has not been properly stored, such as after exposure to high heat or sunlight.
This guide is about cosmetics and personal-care products. For medicines or pharmaceutical products, follow the printed expiry date, storage instructions, and pharmacist or doctor guidance.
Where to find the PAO symbol
Look for a small open-jar icon on the product tube, bottle, compact, label or outer box. The number may be printed inside or beside the jar, such as 6M, 12M or 24M. Small products may place it near the barcode, ingredient list, batch code or manufacturer information.
If the product has both an outer box and inner packaging, check both before throwing the box away. The box may carry extra label information that is harder to fit on a small tube or pencil.
If you cannot find a PAO symbol, do not guess one from product type alone. Use the printed label, brand instructions and the product’s condition. If you are unsure, the Makeup Expiry Calculator includes a “PAO guidance” option for products where you cannot find the symbol. For more label-reading basics, see how to read a skincare ingredient list.
Why the clock starts after opening
Opening a product changes how it is exposed. Air, fingers, brushes, applicators, water and bathroom humidity can all affect a formula. Every use creates another opportunity for contamination or drying, especially with products used around the eyes or mouth.
That does not mean every opened product becomes dangerous quickly. It means the label is based on expected use and storage, not unlimited handling.
A simple habit helps: write the opening month and year on the product with a fine marker or small label. If you rotate several mascaras, lip products or cream complexion products, this tiny note is more reliable than memory.
Opening date matters because the same 12M symbol can lead to different decisions depending on when you first used the product. A mascara opened last week and a mascara opened last year are not in the same situation, even if the packaging looks identical.
Storage and hygiene habits that affect makeup expiry
Good storage cannot make a product last forever, but poor storage can shorten its usable life.
Keep products closed when not in use. Store them away from heat, direct sun and standing water. Avoid adding water or saliva to revive a dry product. Use clean hands or clean applicators, and avoid dipping shared or dirty tools into jars and pans.
For products used near the eyes, hygiene matters more. The FDA advises not sharing eye cosmetics and says to stop using eye cosmetics if they cause irritation. It also advises discarding eye cosmetics used during an eye infection and not adding water or saliva to dried mascara.
If you use brushes or sponges, product age and tool hygiene work together. A clean product can still be applied with a dirty tool, so it helps to clean makeup brushes regularly.
Signs makeup may be expired before the PAO ends
Visible or sensory changes can justify discarding a product before the PAO period is over. Watch for:
- a new or unpleasant smell;
- separation that does not resolve as the label describes;
- unexpected thickening, drying or graininess;
- color change;
- mold-like spots or contamination;
- broken packaging that cannot close properly;
- irritation from a product that previously felt comfortable; or
- performance changes, such as clumping, dragging or uneven application.
These signs do not diagnose exactly what has happened chemically or microbiologically. They are practical reasons not to keep applying the product to your face, lips or eyes.
If a product has changed smell, texture, color or performance, do not try to “fix” it by adding water, oil, setting spray or saliva. That can change the formula further and may increase contamination risk. Replace the product instead, especially if it goes near your eyes, lips or irritated skin.
Why you should not rely on the symbol alone
A product should not automatically be treated as safe merely because the PAO period has not passed. Storage, contamination and the condition of the product matter.
The reverse is also nuanced. The FDA explains that expiration dates are rules of thumb and that products stored under ideal conditions may remain acceptable after a date. For a consumer deciding what to put near the eyes or on irritated skin, however, caution is reasonable. If a product looks or smells wrong, do not keep using it just because the calendar says it might be within range.
If a product causes burning, swelling, rash or persistent irritation, stop using it. For a new skincare product, a cautious patch-test may help you notice obvious irritation before applying it widely, but it cannot guarantee that a product will never cause a reaction.
If a product repeatedly pills, separates or sits strangely over skincare, it may be a compatibility or layering issue rather than an expiry issue. For layering basics, see the morning skincare routine order guide.
Mascara and eye products
Mascara and other eye-area cosmetics deserve extra caution because applicators repeatedly move between the product and the eye area. The FDA says some industry experts recommend replacing mascara three months after purchase, and that manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara after two to four months. It also warns against adding water or saliva to dried mascara.
Those statements are not a fixed global schedule for every eye product. They are a caution that eye products have more limited shelf-life concerns than many other cosmetics. Follow the specific label and discard products used during an eye infection.
Sunscreen and SPF makeup
Sunscreen and SPF makeup need extra common sense because the product is tied to sun protection, not only cosmetic finish. Do not stretch an SPF product beyond sensible use if the label date has passed, the PAO period has passed, the product has been exposed to heat, or the formula has changed smell, texture, color or consistency.
Makeup with SPF should also not be treated as your only protection when meaningful sun exposure is expected. You usually apply makeup for appearance, not in the thick, even layer used for sunscreen testing. If you are planning time outside, the Sun Protection Advisor can help you think through UV forecast and practical protection.
For more on sunscreen use, see how much sunscreen to apply and how to reapply sunscreen over makeup.
Frequently asked questions
What does 12M mean on makeup?
12M usually means the makeup or cosmetic product is intended to be used within 12 months after opening. It is a Period After Opening symbol, not necessarily the unopened product’s expiry date.
What does 6M mean on makeup?
6M usually means six months after opening. Write down the opening month if you are likely to forget, especially for products used near the eyes or lips.
What does 24M mean on skincare?
24M usually means twenty-four months after opening. It does not mean the product is fine forever; storage and changes in smell, texture, color or performance still matter.
Is 12M the same as an expiry date?
No. A 12M PAO symbol starts from when you open the product. A printed expiry date or minimum-durability date is a separate label instruction, and you should follow the product label.
What does the open-jar symbol mean?
The open-jar symbol is the PAO symbol. It usually shows a number plus “M,” such as 6M, 12M or 24M, to indicate the number of months after opening.
How do I remember when I opened makeup?
Write the opening month and year on the product with a fine marker or small label. This is especially useful for products you rotate, such as mascaras, lip products and cream complexion products.
Can I use makeup after the PAO symbol has passed?
Sometimes a product may look normal after the PAO period, but you should be cautious, especially around the eyes or on irritated skin. If the product smells different, separates, changes color, clumps, drags, irritates your skin or no longer performs normally, replace it.
Key takeaways
- 12M usually means twelve months after opening; 6M means six months; 24M means twenty-four months.
- PAO is different from a printed expiration or minimum-durability date.
- EU cosmetic rules provide an important PAO labeling context, but label rules vary by region.
- Storage, contamination and visible changes can make a product unsuitable before the PAO period ends.
- Eye products and shared applicators deserve extra hygiene caution.
- For medicines, follow the printed expiry date and pharmacist or doctor guidance, not cosmetic PAO advice.