Do Beauty Products Expire? Shelf Life of Hair Color, Developer, Nail Polish and Skin Care

Do beauty products expire? Yes. They break down over time, even though U.S. law doesn’t require most cosmetics to carry an expiration date, the FDA says. Sunscreen and other over-the-counter drugs are the exception. Below: the open-jar symbol, signs of spoilage, storage, and what hair color and nail polish makers say about shelf life.

Do cosmetics have to have an expiration date?

No. The FDA says no U.S. law or regulation requires cosmetics to have set shelf lives or expiration dates on their labels. Makers must make sure their products are safe, and the FDA considers working out shelf life part of that job. To learn how a brand tests shelf life, the FDA says, ask the brand.

Drugs are different. Products that are drugs, or both drugs and cosmetics, must be tested for stability and carry expiration dates, the FDA says. That covers sunscreens, acne treatments, and makeup or moisturizers with SPF claims; antidandruff shampoo is both a cosmetic and a drug. These products carry a “Drug Facts” label (FDA).

For sunscreen, the FDA requires an expiration date unless testing shows the product stays stable for at least three years. So treat a sunscreen with no date as expired three years after purchase, and throw out any bottle whose age you don’t know. The AAD suggests writing the purchase date on undated bottles; see our daily sunscreen guide.

What the open-jar symbol on beauty products means

Look for a small open jar with a number and “M,” such as 12M. That’s the period after opening: how many months the product should last once you open it, the AAD explains. OPI, for example, marks its nail lacquers 24M, meaning use within 24 months of opening. Dermatologists suggest keeping track of when you open each product, so write the date on it.

The AAD notes that the symbol isn’t required on cosmetics in the United States. It comes from European rules: under the cosmetics regulation used in the European Union and Great Britain, products that stay good for more than 30 months carry it, and those that last 30 months or less need a “best before” date instead, UK government guidance explains. Single-use products, products that don’t deteriorate and containers that don’t open, such as aerosols, don’t need it.

How to tell if a beauty product has gone bad

The FDA explains why products spoil: fingers dipped into jars add bacteria and fungi, preservatives weaken over time, oil-and-water mixtures separate, products dry out and crack, and heat, sunlight and air change color, texture and smell. The AAD says to toss a product that:

• smells bad;
• clumps, crumbles, or looks dry and flaky or runny;
• separates, like a foundation splitting into layers;
• has changed color;
• feels different on your skin.

A Cleveland Clinic dermatologist adds performance: mascara that flakes or blush that won’t blend. The AAD says old makeup can cause eye infections and skin infections such as impetigo and folliculitis. Stop using anything that irritates your skin or eyes; for eye cosmetics, the FDA says to see a doctor if irritation persists.

How to store beauty products so they last

• Keep them cool. The FDA says not to store cosmetics above 85°F. Heat, such as in a hot car, can break down preservatives and help bacteria and fungi grow faster.
• Keep them dry and out of the sun. Bathroom moisture helps bacteria and fungi grow (FDA). The AAD suggests a clean, dry spot at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
• Close caps and lids securely after each use (AAD).
• Keep fingers out. Wash your hands before applying makeup (AAD) and keep containers and applicators clean (FDA). Pumps help: the Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says pumping doesn’t contaminate a product the way touching it does.
• Don’t share. The FDA says store testers are even more likely to be contaminated, so try them only with a new applicator, such as a fresh cotton swab.
• Buy from sellers you trust. The FDA warns that flea-market or resold products may be past their shelf life, used, diluted or fake.

How long does mascara last? Eye makeup expires sooner

Eye-area cosmetics tend to have shorter shelf lives, the FDA says, and can cause eye infections that may be serious; in rare cases, infections from eye cosmetics have blinded people temporarily or permanently. Every use exposes a mascara wand to bacteria and fungi.

• Mascara: manufacturers usually recommend throwing it out two to four months after purchase (FDA). An AAD dermatologist says three months; a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist says six. The cautious choice is the shortest.
• Dried-out mascara: throw it away. Adding water or saliva brings in bacteria and dilutes the preservative (FDA).
• Eye infection: stop using eye makeup, talk with your health care provider, and throw out the products you used when the infection started (FDA).

How long do hair color and developer last?

Makers give different answers for unopened color:

• Clairol says unopened hair color generally lasts up to three years, and to check the expiry date on the box.
• Goldwell guarantees four years for its hair color and says storage that’s too hot or too cold shortens that.
• Garnier says most box color makers call hair dye non-expiring, but shelf life isn’t unlimited, especially after poor storage or once a product is opened. An odd smell, or separation when you mix it with developer, means it’s past due.

Developer is hydrogen peroxide in cream or liquid form; CHI and Wella list it in their developers’ ingredients. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says hydrogen peroxide is unstable and breaks down readily into oxygen and water. The CHI and Wella developer pages we checked give no shelf life, so go by the bottle. One developer maker, Hydrox Laboratories, says in its safety data sheet to store it in a cool, dark place and avoid extreme heat and contamination. See our developer volume guide.

Never save mixed hair color

Wella’s Color Touch and Koleston Perfect guides say to apply the mixture immediately. Garnier says the chemistry starts once color and developer are blended, so throw out what’s left; it won’t work later. The Japan Hair Color Industry Association adds that stored mixture gives off gas that can burst the container, so wash leftovers away. Wella also calls for an allergy patch test 48 hours before each application; see our patch test guide.

How long does nail polish last?

• Essie gives unopened polish a two-year shelf life and says to throw out bottles opened more than 24 months ago. Aging ingredients can make colors fade, yellow or shift.
• OPI marks its lacquers 24M: use within 24 months of opening. Shades can turn more yellow over time as the film former ages, OPI says, and a dark, cool place helps protect them.
• Thick polish: Essie says polish drying on the bottle neck keeps the cap from sealing, so solvents evaporate and the polish thickens. Wipe the neck with remover and close the cap tightly.
• Separated polish: shake it, then let the bubbles settle before you paint (Essie).
• Storage: OPI says to keep lacquer upright in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Essie says the refrigerator works too.

Keep polish away from flames and heat. The FDA warns that some nail products can easily catch fire near a stove’s pilot light, a lit cigarette or a curling iron’s heating element, and says to use them with good ventilation.

At OBB

• Wella Professionals Color Touch Demi-Permanent Hair Color (Rich Naturals): a demi-permanent color that Wella mixes 1:2 with Color Touch Emulsion 1.9% or 4%.
• CHI 20 Volume Developer: CHI says its developers are made to work with CHI color and lighteners and contain aloe vera, silk protein and bonding agents.
• Seche Vive Instant Gel Effect Top Coat: a fast-drying top coat that Seche says gives a gel-like shine with no UV or LED lamp.
• IMAGE Skincare Vital C Hydrating Serum: a vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid that IMAGE says to pump onto cleansed skin, morning and evening.
• Moroccanoil Argan Butter Lip Balm Trio: three argan butter lip balms in a tin, per Moroccanoil.

Call or text (949) 591-5304 with your list and we will confirm stock and pricing, then pick up at our Westminster store.

Related reading: Permanent vs Demi vs Semi-Permanent Hair Color, Why Your Nail Polish Chips and How to Keep Hair Color From Fading.

FAQ

Is it bad to use expired makeup?

It can be. The AAD says old makeup may not work as expected, can irritate skin, and can grow bacteria and mold that cause eye or skin infections.

How long is mascara good for after opening?

Manufacturers usually say two to four months after purchase (FDA); an AAD dermatologist says three. Replace it sooner if it dries out or you get an eye infection.

Does hair dye expire?

Unopened color lasts years: generally up to three, Clairol says, and four for Goldwell color. Skip color that smells odd or separates when mixed (Garnier).

Does nail polish go bad?

Yes, slowly. OPI and Essie say to use polish within 24 months of opening, and Essie says aging can make colors fade, yellow or shift.

Sources

• FDA: Shelf Life and Expiration Dating of Cosmetics, Eye Cosmetic Safety, Nail Care Products, Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? and Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin
• American Academy of Dermatology, When to toss your makeup and sunscreen; Cleveland Clinic, Does Makeup Expire? 5 Signs To Toss It (2026)
• UK Office for Product Safety and Standards, Regulation 1223/2009 guidance for Great Britain (2026); European Commission, period-after-opening guidance
• Nail polish makers: OPI FAQ, Essie FAQ and Seche Vive Instant Gel Effect Top Coat
• Hair color makers: Clairol, Your Guide to Coloring Hair at Home; Goldwell, Lifespan of Products; Garnier, hair coloring at home guide; Japan Hair Color Industry Association, Handling coloring mixture after use
• Wella Professionals, Color Touch usage guidelines, Koleston Perfect leaflet and Color Touch product warnings; CHI, 20 Volume Developer
• ATSDR, ToxFAQs for Hydrogen Peroxide; Hydrox Laboratories, Crème Developer 20 Volume safety data sheet (2023)
• Skin and lip care makers: IMAGE Skincare Vital C hydrating serum and Moroccanoil Argan Butter Lip Balm Trio Kit

This is general information, not medical advice. The date, symbol and directions on your product come first. Stop using a product that irritates your skin or eyes, and see a doctor if the irritation doesn’t clear up. Do an allergy patch test 48 hours before each hair color application, as color labels such as Wella’s direct. Nail polish is flammable, so keep it away from heat and flame.