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Cosmetics & Personal Care Shelf Life Guide

Makeup, skincare, haircare, and personal hygiene — 109 products covered

Cosmetics and personal care products have expiration dates that many consumers overlook. Using expired makeup, skincare, and hygiene products can cause skin irritation, infections, and reduced effectiveness. Most cosmetics have a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol indicating how many months the product lasts after first use. This guide covers shelf life data for over 100 cosmetic and personal care products.

Cosmetics & Personal Care Shelf Life at a Glance

Product	Unopened	Opened	Refrigerated	Frozen	Risk
Aftershave	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
AHA BHA Exfoliant	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Antiperspirant	2-3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Azelaic Acid Cream	24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Bakuchiol Serum	12 months	6 months	6 months	—	SAFE
Bar Soap	3-5 years	1-2 years	—	—	SAFE
Base Coat Nail Polish	18-24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
BB Cream	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Blush	2-3 years	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Body Lotion	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Body Wash	2-3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Box Hair Dye	2-3 years	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Bronzer	2-3 years	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Brow Pomade	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
CC Cream	1-2 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Clay Face Mask	1-2 years	3-6 months	3-6 months	—	SAFE
Cologne	3-5 years	1-2 years	—	—	SAFE
Color Correcting Concealer	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Concealer	1-2 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Conditioner	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Contour Palette	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Cushion Foundation	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Cuticle Oil	1-2 years	6-12 months	6-12 months	—	SAFE
Cuticle Remover	24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Dental Floss	3-5 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Deodorant Stick	2-3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Dry Shampoo	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Exfoliating Scrub	1-2 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Eye Cream	1-2 years	3-6 months	3-6 months	—	SAFE
Eye Primer	24 months	6 to 12 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyebrow Gel	24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyebrow Pencil	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyelash Curler	5 years	1-2 years	—	—	SAFE
Eyeliner Liquid	1-2 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyeliner Pencil	2-3 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyeshadow Palette	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Eyeshadow Stick	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Face Mask Sheet	1-3 years	—	—	—	SAFE
Face Mist	12 months	3-6 months	Up to 6 months	—	SAFE
Face Moisturizer	1-3 years	6-12 months	12-18 months	—	SAFE
Face Oil	12-24 months	3-6 months	6-9 months	—	SAFE
Face Serum	12-24 months	3-6 months	6-9 months	—	SAFE
Face Wash Cleanser	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Facial Toner	2-3 years	6-12 months	6-12 months	—	SAFE
False Eyelashes	12 months	3-5 uses or up to 1 month	—	—	SAFE
Foundation Liquid	12-24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Gel Nail Polish	18-24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Glycolic Acid Toner	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Gua Sha Stone	Indefinite	Indefinite with proper cleaning	—	—	CAUTION
Hair Bleach	18-24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Color Developer	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Gel	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Mask	1-2 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Oil	1-2 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Spray	3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Hair Toner	24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Hand Cream	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Highlighter	2-3 years	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Hyaluronic Acid Serum	12-24 months	3-6 months	6 months	—	SAFE
Illuminating Primer	24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Jade Roller Facial	Indefinite	6 months to 1 year with proper cleaning	—	—	SAFE
Kajal Kohl Eyeliner	24 months	3 to 6 months	—	—	SAFE
Lash Glue	6 months to 1 year	3 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Balm Chapstick	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Gloss	1-2 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Liner	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Plumper	24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Scrub	24 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Lip Stain	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Lipstick	2-3 years	1 year	1 year	—	SAFE
Liquid Lipstick	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Loose Setting Powder	24-36 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Makeup Brushes Set	3 years	6 months to 1 year	—	—	SAFE
Makeup Sponge Beauty Blender	12 months	3 months	—	—	SAFE
Mascara	2-3 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Matte Lipstick	2 years	6 to 12 months	—	—	SAFE
Micellar Water	2-3 years	3-6 months	3-6 months	—	SAFE
Mineral Foundation Powder	24-36 months	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Mouthwash	2-3 years	6-12 months	6-12 months	—	SAFE
Nail Glue	12 months	3 to 6 months	—	—	SAFE
Nail Polish	2-3 years	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Nail Polish Remover	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Nail Strengthener	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Niacinamide Serum	24 months	3-6 months	6 months	—	SAFE
Peptide Moisturizer	24 months	6 months	6 months	—	SAFE
Perfume	3-5 years	1-3 years	—	—	SAFE
Pore Primer	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Press-On Nails	24 months	3 months	—	—	SAFE
Primer Face	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Razors	2-3 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Retinol Cream	12-24 months	3-6 months	4-6 months	—	SAFE
Root Touch-Up Powder	12 months	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Self Tanner	1-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Setting Powder	2-3 years	12-18 months	—	—	SAFE
Setting Spray	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Shampoo	2-3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Shaving Cream	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Snail Mucin Essence	24-36 months	6-12 months	8-12 months	—	SAFE
Stick Foundation	24 months	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Sunscreen SPF50	2-3 years	6-12 months	6-12 months	—	SAFE
Sunscreen Spray	2-3 years	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Tinted Lip Balm	12 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Tinted Moisturizer	1-2 years	3-6 months	—	—	SAFE
Tinted Sunscreen	3 years	12 months	—	—	SAFE
Toothpaste	2 years	6 months	—	—	SAFE
Top Coat Nail Polish	18-24 months	6-12 months	—	—	SAFE
Vitamin C Serum	12-24 months	3-6 months	4-6 months	—	SAFE
Waterproof Mascara	24 months	3 to 6 months	—	—	SAFE
Whitening Strips	12-24 months	—	—	—	SAFE

How to Store Cosmetics & Personal Care Properly

Check for the PAO symbol (an open jar icon with a number) on packaging to determine post-opening shelf life.
Store cosmetics in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity.
Never share eye makeup — bacterial transfer can cause eye infections.
Replace mascara every 3 months regardless of remaining product — it has the highest contamination risk.
Clean makeup brushes and applicators regularly to prevent bacterial buildup.

Signs of Spoilage in Cosmetics & Personal Care

Expired cosmetics may change color, develop an unusual smell, separate, or change texture. Mascara that becomes clumpy or smells off should be discarded immediately. Sunscreen that has separated or changed color has lost effectiveness. Skincare products that sting, cause redness, or have changed consistency should not be used.

All Cosmetics & Personal Care Products (109)

Cosmetics & Personal Care Shelf Life Guide

Cosmetics & Personal Care Shelf Life at a Glance

How to Store Cosmetics & Personal Care Properly

Signs of Spoilage in Cosmetics & Personal Care

All Cosmetics & Personal Care Products (109)

Aftershave

AHA BHA Exfoliant

Antiperspirant

Azelaic Acid Cream

Bakuchiol Serum

Bar Soap

Base Coat Nail Polish

BB Cream

Blush

Body Lotion

Body Wash

Box Hair Dye

Bronzer

Brow Pomade

CC Cream

Clay Face Mask

Cologne

Color Correcting Concealer

Concealer

Conditioner

Contour Palette

Cushion Foundation

Cuticle Oil

Cuticle Remover

Dental Floss

Deodorant Stick

Dry Shampoo

Exfoliating Scrub

Eye Cream

Eye Primer

Eyebrow Gel

Eyebrow Pencil

Eyelash Curler

Eyeliner Liquid

Eyeliner Pencil

Eyeshadow Palette

Eyeshadow Stick

Face Mask Sheet

Face Mist

Face Moisturizer

Face Oil

Face Serum

Face Wash Cleanser

Facial Toner

False Eyelashes

Foundation Liquid

Gel Nail Polish

Glycolic Acid Toner

Gua Sha Stone

Hair Bleach

Hair Color Developer

Hair Gel

Hair Mask

Hair Oil

Hair Spray

Hair Toner

Hand Cream

Highlighter

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Illuminating Primer

Jade Roller Facial

Kajal Kohl Eyeliner

Lash Glue

Lip Balm Chapstick

Lip Gloss

Lip Liner

Lip Plumper

Lip Scrub

Lip Stain

Lipstick

Liquid Lipstick

Loose Setting Powder

Makeup Brushes Set

Makeup Sponge Beauty Blender

Mascara