US- Expiration Date

US- Expiration Date

Under the U.S. FDA, cosmetics (unlike drugs) are not required by law to carry an expiration date.

• The FDA only requires expiration dates for products that are classified as drugs (e.g., sunscreen, acne treatment, dandruff shampoo, etc.).

Some brands choose to include:

• • A "Period After Opening" (PAO) symbol — e.g., 12M meaning “good for 12 months after opening.”

  • A batch or lot code, which lets the manufacturer track production and recall items if needed.. The batch code can be checked directly with the manufacturer.

  • In the EU, cosmetic law requires either an expiration date (“Best before”) or a PAO symbol.
    That’s why European cosmetics usually show it — but the U.S. leaves it to the manufacturer's discretion.

• Regular cosmetics — such as lipsticks, creams, perfumes, or makeup — are considered safe until proven otherwise, as long as they’re stored properly and show no visible signs of spoilage.

• We have asked every manufacturer about their shelf life and PAO ( Period after opening), and this information is added at the Product Page. If you prefer their official communication, please don't hesitate to contact us at cosmeticeantiaging@gmail.com to provide a copy of such confirmation.