Does Makeup Expire? How Long Cosmetics Last After Opening

Yes — makeup expires, and mostly from the day you open it, not the date printed on the box. The clock is written on the packaging in a symbol most people have never decoded.

The PAO symbol: 6M, 12M, 24M

Look for a small open-jar icon with a number and an “M” — that's the Period After Opening (PAO). “12M” means the product is good for 12 months once opened. Unopened, most cosmetics keep for around three years; some products instead carry an “EXP” date that applies regardless of opening.

How long each product really lasts (opened)

Product	Typical life after opening	Why
Mascara & liquid eyeliner	3–6 months	Wet + used near the eye = fastest bacterial risk
Liquid foundation & concealer	6–12 months	Moisture supports microbial growth
Skincare (toner, lotion, serum)	6–12 months	Especially pump-free jars you dip fingers into
Sunscreen	6–12 months opened	Actives degrade — weak SPF is invisible until the sunburn
Lipstick & lip liner	12–18 months	Drier formula, but touches the mouth
Powders (eyeshadow, blush)	1–2 years	Dry products resist bacteria best

Regardless of the numbers: if the smell, color, or texture changes, or it separates and won't remix — it's done.

Why expired makeup actually matters

Eye infections are the classic consequence of ancient mascara — conjunctivitis and styes from bacteria multiplying in the tube.
Skin irritation and breakouts from degraded formulas and preservatives that have stopped working.
Sunscreen quietly failing — the one where reduced potency does real damage.

The problem: PAO starts on a date nobody wrote down

A “12M” stamp is useless if you don't remember whether you opened the foundation last spring or the one before. Beauty sites suggest writing the opening date on the bottle with a marker — which works exactly as well as every other manual system (see why tracking systems fail).

The ten-second version: when you open a product, add it to RiScan — snap a photo, and set the date to today-plus-PAO (open the mascara in July, 6M stamp → set January). If the product has a printed EXP date instead, just scan it like any grocery item. Either way, you get a notification when the clock runs out, per product, with a photo so you know exactly which tube it means.

Your makeup bag, off your memory. RiScan tracks cosmetics, food, and medicine in one list — free for iPhone and iPad.

Make it last the full PAO

Store cosmetics cool and dry — the bathroom's humidity is the worst room in the house for them.
Don't pump the mascara wand; it forces air (and bacteria) in.
Use spatulas for jar products, wash brushes and sponges regularly.
Never add water (or worse, saliva) to revive a drying product.