⏳ When Do Your Cosmetics Expire After Opening?
The open-jar symbol tells you how many months a product stays safe after opening — here we work out the exact date.
The open-jar symbol 🫙 with a number and M (e.g. 12M) means months after opening. If your product has it, enter it — it is the most accurate.
Typical shelf life after opening
| Product | After opening |
|---|---|
| Mascara | 3 months |
| Liquid eyeliner | 3 months |
| Eye / brow pencil | 12 months |
| Powder eyeshadow | 12 months |
| Cream eyeshadow | 6 months |
| Liquid foundation | 12 months |
| Concealer | 12 months |
| Powder / powder blush | 24 months |
| Cream blush / bronzer | 12 months |
| Lipstick | 12 months |
| Lip gloss | 12 months |
| Vitamin C serum | 3 months |
| Retinol / retinoid | 6 months |
| Serum (hyaluronic, niacinamide…) | 6 months |
| Moisturizer (jar) | 6 months |
| Moisturizer (tube / pump) | 12 months |
| Eye cream | 6 months |
| Face cleanser | 12 months |
| Toner / micellar water | 12 months |
| Sunscreen | 12 months |
| Nail polish | 12 months |
| Perfume | 36 months |
📝 How this tool was built
The durations are the typical values per category based on the Period-After-Opening (open-jar) symbol required by EU cosmetics law for products lasting under 30 months, together with the US FDA advice to replace eye mascara every 3 months.
Why are eye products shorter?
Eyes are sensitive to bacteria, and mascara and liquid liner get contaminated with every use — so they last only about 3 months.
Why do vitamin C and retinol last less than other serums?
They are unstable molecules that oxidise with air and light, losing potency even if they have not “gone off”.
Note
If your pack shows a different number, the printed number wins — it is based on the manufacturer's stability testing for that exact product.
Frequently asked questions
What does 12M on a cream jar mean?
How long does mascara last after opening?
Is the expiry date the same as the period after opening?
How can I tell a product has gone bad?
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