Does unopened makeup expire?

Unopened makeup does expire, but much more slowly than opened makeup. Sealed products are protected from air, fingers and brushes, which are what wear products down fastest. Still, formulas change over time, even in the box.

What brands say about sealed products

Several big brands publish their own figures, and they line up closely.

Maybelline says its products have been tested to have at least a three-year shelf life if unopened and stored at normal room temperature. Revlon says its products typically have a shelf life of at least three years. The Ordinary says its products have a shelf life of three years when unopened and stored at room temperature, which it describes as the regulatory threshold for testing.

So three years is a reasonable rule of thumb for a sealed product kept in normal conditions. Heat and humidity can shorten it.

How EU labels handle this

European law builds this into the label. Under Article 19 of the EU Cosmetics Regulation, products that last 30 months or less must carry a best-before date. Products that last longer than 30 months carry the Period After Opening symbol instead.

In practice, if a product has a best-before date, that date applies even if you never open it. If it has only the open-jar PAO symbol, it is expected to be stable for a long time sealed, and the PAO tells you how long it lasts once opened. Our PAO symbol guide has more detail.

Is old unopened makeup safe?

Mostly, yes. Dr. Susan Massick, a dermatologist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, says unopened expired makeup typically loses effectiveness but won’t cause harm. The bigger hygiene risks come after opening, when bacteria start getting in.

“Loses effectiveness” can still matter. An old foundation may have separated, a lipstick may have dried out, and an old sunscreen may not protect you properly.

Sunscreen is the exception

Sunscreen follows stricter rules because it is regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the U.S. The FDA says a sunscreen without an expiration date should be considered expired three years after purchase. If it has a date, use that, whether or not it has been opened.

How to check an old sealed product

If you find something sealed at the back of a drawer, check it before use:

1. Look for a printed date on the packaging. If it has passed, replace the product.
2. Open it and look closely. Separation that won’t mix back, a changed color or a strange smell are all signs it has gone off.
3. If it seems fine, write the date you opened it on the pack. Its Period After Opening starts now.

Buy what you’ll use

The easiest fix is not having a stockpile. Backups bought on sale often end up past their best before you get to them. If you do keep backups, store them somewhere cool and dark, use the oldest first, and keep a list so you know what you have. Our guide on how to store makeup covers the details.