Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Stop using it! Here's how to find out when

Here's a good tip about expiration dates! Look at the back of your beauty products and you'll usually find this symbol:

It's called a PAO symbol, or period-after-opening. There's a number followed by the letter M. The number says how many months before it expires. Here's the example from Wikipedia:Once you open the product, take a marker and count the months indicated by the PAO. So if the symbol says 6M and you opened the product today, then write Nov 09 on the container. This really works because then you know when your product expires and also when to start shopping for a new one!

My eye cream, for example, expired this month. So even if I still want to use the little cream left in the tube, I had to throw it away. My makeup remover, which I love, expires next month so I'm wearing makeup every day this month so I can really finish it and it won't go to waste!
Knowing the expiration date is very important especially for products that are liquid (like foundation) or that has contact with your skin (like mascara) or you dip your finger in it (like creams). Your finger, no matter how much you've washed it, can still have germs and a nice jar of cream can become a breeding ground for bacteria. So dispose when the PAO says so!

Now go grab that marker...

The Beauty Writer

17 comments:

karmi said...

Hmmm...thanks for the great tip!

KT Nielsen said...

Very informative. I like this indispensable tip...

Bucca said...

thanks for that I'm going to go home and check my products tonight!

Shutterfairy said...

this is interesting...

ChinkyGirLMeL said...

oh ok...interesting. i will definitely keep this in mind.

Crystal Gale said...

Thanx for the tip! I didn't know this :)

tinedangganda said...

wow great info!!! thanks a lot!!!l

Jem said...

i also put dates on the products that i used so that i would know when i started to use them so that i won't accidentally use an expired products myself
^_^

DaisyChain said...

Great post, I am forever checking dates on my products and keep a list of what expires when.

Roanne @ All the Vanity said...

This symbol is mostly overlooked at! Before, I was somewhat guilty over this, since I'm thinking it's not "sulit" to throw that crap away especially if buying it put some dent on my budget. ;-)

Hmm... I don't know about the markers, since I am somewhat OC and try not to tarnish stuff. IKR, it's crazy! But, perhaps, putting a magic tape right before marking it would suffice for the OCD me. :-P

Gaby Fauchon said...

Hi! Very useful tip! I was wondering what that symbol mean! Thank you!

Lolita Riot said...

oohh good idea to write down when you opened!

chocowafer said...

Cool info! Usually, I just take a guess when I should stop using it. LOL.

May said...

This is a great tip indeed, esp. for a beauty junkie like me! Thanks heaps!

*KiM* said...

this is a very helpful post. Thanks =)

♥ mia said...

uh-oh, i didn't know about this! great tip! :)

i literally went thru my makeup products.. and.. i have to get rid of my makeup remover waaah!

♥ mia said...

btw, this may seem like a stupid ? but what if i bought a certain product say a year ago but haven't opened it? do i still follow the 12M PAO, or should i throw it away already?