Buying guides
Cosmetic expiry: understand dates and opening periods
Two time references with different starting points
A minimum durability date and a period-after-opening indication serve different purposes. The open-jar symbol generally describes how long a product should be used after first opening under the manufacturer’s intended conditions. Find the information on your own item and record when you opened it; a batch code is not a universal expiry-date system.
Keep opened products easy to track
Opening several similar cosmetics at once makes their use harder to monitor. Retain legible instructions and follow each reference’s stated period instead of extending it because the bottle still looks full. If appearance or smell changes, stop using the item and ask the maker for guidance; actual storage conditions also affect the state of a cosmetic.
Resources to explore further
DGCCRF — étiquetage cosmétique
The French consumer authority distinguishes durability information from the period after opening when explaining the required information on cosmetic packaging.Cosmetics Info — Shelf Life
Cosmetics Info discusses shelf life and how unsuitable storage can affect a cosmetic before the date or opening period on its label.FDA — cosmetics
The FDA’s cosmetics portal connects readers with safety and shelf-life information relevant to products sold under the United States regulatory framework.