Duration of Lip Gloss, Makeup, and Related Products: A Look at Their Shelf Life
In the world of beauty, it's essential to keep our makeup products not only looking great but also safe to use. One symbol that might have caught your eye on your makeup products is the open jar, often accompanied by a number like "6M" or "12M". This is the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol, and it's a crucial guide to understanding the lifespan of your cosmetics after first use.
The PAO symbol indicates how many months a product remains safe and effective to use after being opened. For instance, a "6M" next to the open jar means you should use the product within 6 months of opening. This is different from the manufacturing or expiration date printed on the product, which refers to the product's shelf life before opening.
By following the PAO, you can ensure that your makeup remains effective and reduces the risk of skin irritation, allergic reactions, and the promotion of blemishes and acne. It's important to discard products after the PAO period, even if they appear normal. Continued use past this period can pose safety risks, particularly for jar packaging which is more exposed to contaminants.
Smaller packaging sizes in makeup can help ensure consumers can finish the product within its PAO, minimising waste and risk. The PAO symbol also complements other symbols like the hourglass, which indicates an absolute expiry date irrespective of opening, mostly for products expiring within 30 months.
Here are some practical tips for safely using your makeup:
- Always close jars immediately after use to extend the lifespan of your products.
- Store your makeup in a cooler, drier place like your bedroom instead of the bathroom to help extend their lifespan.
- Regularly clean your makeup brushes to extend the lifespan of your products.
- Look at the smell, colour, and consistency of your products to determine if they're still usable. If they smell rancid, biting, or have a "chemically altered" smell, they're likely past their expiry date.
- If your skin reacts with itching, burning, or redness after application, discard the product.
Remember, expired makeup poses serious health risks. So, it's important to dispose of old products that are visibly spoiled or have been used for significantly longer than recommended in your regular trash. It's also impractical to separate and recycle glass and plastic makeup containers as they are often firmly glued together.
In conclusion, the PAO open jar symbol is a critical guide to safely using makeup products by defining their effective lifespan after first use. Ignoring it can reduce the product’s efficacy and increase the potential for skin irritation or infection. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your makeup remains safe, effective, and beautiful.
- To maintain the effectiveness and safety of your health-and-wellness products, such as makeup, it's crucial to follow the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol, which indicates how many months a product remains safe and effective to use after being opened.
- By incorporating fitness-and-exercise routines and skin-care practices, like regular cleaning of makeup brushes and storing makeup in a cool, dry place, you can complement the PAO symbol's guidance, ensuring your makeup remains safe, effective, and beautiful for a longer period.
