Updated on December 5th, 2024
I got this idea of checking the makeup manufacturing dates of products I own from Michala since some of her makeup was 1-2 years old before she even bought it. Now I am curious how old my makeup is. Furthermore, “Using expired makeup can lead to skin irritation and reduce product effectiveness. Knowing the age of your products helps you avoid these issues and ensures better results,” says Sara Millecam of Beautiful Brows and Lashes.
I used checkcosmetics.net to find the manufacturing dates for my makeup, but it does not have some brands like Colourpop, Fenty Beauty, Pixi, Revolution, Soap & Glory, Tarte, Wet n Wild, and W7. Also, I had some issues with the brands it does have like NYX and Sleek Makeup because when I entered the batch code for a product, I would get an error. However, if you have any makeup from popular brands, I would recommend checking the manufacturing date!
Essence Color Up! Shine On! Lipstick in Crystal Polish
- Got in: March 2018
- Manufactured in: November 2017
I received this lipstick in my March 2018 GoodieBox, and I am glad to know that it was manufactured just 4 months before I received it.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Camouflage Concealer in 215 Buff N
- Got in: March 2017
- Manufactured in: November 2016
I received this concealer as part of my Lancôme VoxBox from Influenster, and it was manufactured 4 months before I got it.
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation in 215 Buff N
- Got in: March 2017
- Manufactured in: August 2016
I also received this foundation in my Lancôme VoxBox, and it was manufactured 7 months before I got it. In addition to the batch code, this foundation also has an expiration date of August 2018, so I have plenty of time to finish the bottle.
L’Oréal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick in Cowboy
- Got in: August 2017
- Manufactured in: June 2017
I received this lipstick as well as another lipstick, which was manufactured in July 2017, as part of my L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Lipstick VoxBox from Influenster. I am really glad to know that the lipsticks were manufactured 1-2 months before I got them!
Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Sweet Pink
- Got in: March 2018
- Manufactured in: March 2016
Well, this was shocking. My friend gave me this lipstick along with another one, which had a manufacturing date of May 2016. She bought these lipsticks last month, and they were already 2 years old! She did buy them on sale, but it is crazy to think that they have been sitting on a shelf for that long.
Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara
- Got in: September 2017
- Manufactured in: July 1017
I received this mascara in my September 2017 GoodieBox, and it was manufactured just 2 months before I got it. That is amazing!
Sleek Makeup i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Au Naturel
- Got in: February 2017
- Manufactured in: February 2016
I received this palette in my February 2017 GoodieBox, and it was manufactured a year before I even got it. This palette does not have the worst manufacturing date, but it does make me wonder why it has been sitting on a shelf for a year.
Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Blush in Score
- Got in: March 2017
- Manufactured in: April 2015
This was really shocking. I got this blush last year during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale and before I even got it, it was almost 2 years old! Now that it is 2018, it is 3 years old even though I have had it for only 1. The only positive I can think of is that it is a powder blush instead of a cream blush, but I feel cheated that I was sold such an old product.
Urban Decay Little Liquid Vices
- Got in: December 2017
- Manufactured in: July 2017
I mentioned these lipsticks in my Another Ulta Haul post, and all 4 lipsticks have the same batch code. These lipsticks were manufactured 5 months before I bought them, which is not bad at all.
Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick Metallized in Delusional
- Got in: November 2017
- Manufactured in: July 2017
This lipstick actually has the same batch code as the Little Liquid Vices, so it was manufactured 4 months before I bought it, which is good.
Final Thoughts
My makeup varied from being 1 month-2 years old before I even bought or received it. I definitely think it is great when a product was manufactured 6 months or less before I bought it, but when a certain product has been sitting on a shelf for 1-2 years I feel like there should be a warning especially if it is closer to 2 years old!
For the makeup I was unable to check the manufacturing date, I think it is good to follow the period after opening (PAO) number. The PAO is on almost all makeup and it is the open jar symbol with a number ranging from 3M-36M (3 months-36 months). The number tells you how long the product can be open until it supposedly goes bad. Even though I would like to know the manufacturing date for all my makeup so I can know its shelf life, it is not realistic so I will generally follow the PAO unless I notice any changes in appearance, texture, or odor then I know it has expired and it is time to throw it out!
OMG I’ve never checked the manufacture date on my makeup! That makes me feel so nervous to think about it!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
I haven’t either until I wrote this post! It can be scary b/c your makeup could be several years old & you wouldn’t know unless you checked the date!
thanks for update. I will also keep an eye on expiry dates of such products.
That was oddly fascinating to read! Interesting and gross at the same time! Haha. Thanks for sharing, now I want to go through all my makeup!
I agree it’s gross that some makeup can be several years old before you even buy it!
Hopefully your makeup won’t be that old!
Cool post! Following.
Thanks!
I honestly never do this. I probably should 🙈 shame on me haha
I haven’t either until I saw another blogger do it! Haha
Nice blog! Can you please check out my latest blog? 🙂 thank you.
Thanks!
You know so many people do not even know about this! My mom and nana would keep makeup, nail polish, body care, etc., for YEARS without knowing there is an expiration date! I recently taught my mom about this and she had no idea. I’ve also went through my own collection and narrowed it down throwing away junk that had been sitting there for YEARS. This is a great post!
Thank you! 😊 It’s great you’ve been helping your mom & I think a lot of people don’t know about expiration dates for makeup b/c unlike w/ food, it’s not listed on the packaging. The only thing listed is the PAO & I know a lot don’t keep track of when they opened a certain product.
It’s nice getting rid of old makeup!
Yes it is! It was A bummer on some of my palettes but what can you do, when it goes bad it goes bad! Your article was great though, very important
This is a really informative post.
I do a big clear out every two-three months and check the dates on my makeup: whether it’s an eyebrow pencil or foundation, I need to know what’s good for use and what isn’t.
Kelle – http://www.itskellesspace.com
Thank you! I normally do a clear out of my makeup once a year haha, but it’s good to keep up with what’s expired & what’s not! 😊
That is something to watch. Never thought about it. Only thing I knew was to use lipstick within 6 months of opening.
I never thought about it too until I read Michala’s post where she checked her makeup!
Some lipsticks can last longer, so it’s good to check the period after opening number once you open a new product!
This doesn’t really surprise because when I worked on counters, we would always add new stock, but I don’t remember taking away the old. There is no labelling or much organisation. The only thing checked well was moisturisers.
It is shocking though to think that you can pay the same price for a product that’s already 2 years old, while someone else may luckily get it only 4 months. I guess they tell you to throw away everything after a year though regardless.
That’s crazy that the old and new products would get mixed together & you have to be lucky to get a ‘new’ product. I guess the only way to guarantee your product is brand new is to get it when it’s first released.
Ha! I definitely going to go through my collection to do a “why I could never be a beauty blogger” post.
Not that I use them – but I know I have cosmetics and perfume from the 1980’s still kicking around. I’m trying to figure out what the oldest thing is lol.
Don’t ask me why I haven’t chucked them before now – at the moment the only reason is for a comedy blog post. I’m sure they are gross!
Haha that’s crazy you have makeup & perfume that old! I could never imagine having makeup that’s even 5 years old!
You should definitely do a post about your old makeup! 😂
Prepare to be grossed! After a while lipstick smells like plasticine – even good ones!
That sounds disgusting!
Vile 🤣
I really want to do this for my makeup, but I’m far too lazy. I can’t believe for Urban Decay Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Blush, like how crazy is that. We never know how long products have been sitting in warehouses of brands. xx
Well an easy way to check your makeup is to see if there is a copyright date with the brand name on the packaging. If it’s 2018 then you know it’s brand new, but it’s 2015 then you know it’s old.
I couldn’t believe it either! I still find it crazy that the blush has been sitting on a shelf for that long!
Well this is interesting. You dont have to worry too much about powder products, they have a much much longer expiration date. I think so many people dont take notice of when they open their products either, so have no idea how long they are using something once opened. Its great to raise awareness, thanks for sharing x
I know that’s why I’m not too concerned about the Urban Decay blush, but it would have been nice to know it was so old before I bought it!
I agree a lot of people don’t realize how long they’ve had their makeup open for, but at least with cream products it’s easy to tell if it’s gone bad & mascara you just have to check if it’s dried out. With powder products it’s harder to tell, but like you said they have longer expiration dates!
From my understanding, the date of manufacturing is not as important as the date of opening- as long as it is sealed, it is still safe to use a year later! I would not be concerned about a powder product, because they are incredibly stable (as far as make up goes). I would recommend also keeping a chart handy of how long you can use a product after opening it! (Spoiler alert: mascara is only 3-6 months 🙁 )
I agree the date of opening is important, but when you buy a new product, you expect you it to be brand new and not 2 years old! Luckily though like you said the blush is a powder product, but the 2 lipsticks are not.
That is a good idea to keep a chart, and I know mascaras don’t last long at all which is a shame!
I don’t buy a lot of makeup. I am now sitting here thinking so it doesn’t have a “best before” date on the majority of products. On my list to check other products like hand lotion and moisturizer.
I would be helpful if makeup had a best before date then you wouldn’t have to guess how long it’s good for!
I found this post really interesting of how old some of the products can be before you have even bought them…
Xo
I’m glad you found it interesting!
I have never thought about this! I really want to check out everything I’ve just bought now. 😂
Hopefully your makeup will not be manufactured 2 years ago!
It’s crazy that the lipstick had been on the shelf for so long, because I’ve literally never noticed it on the maybelline display until this year.. it must have been held hostage in a storage space or something D:
It must have! Or it might have been what didn’t sell in the US or whatever country so they tried to sell it here.
Thanks for this!
You’re welcome 😊
This is a good reminder of all of us to check our makeup products expiry date. I wish that makeup comes without an expiry date😅😅
Nice post👍
Thanks! 😊 I wish all makeup came with an expiration date too b/c it would make life a lot easier!
This is something I really never think about, what an interesting topic! Off to check the contents of my makeup bag right away!
LJ x
I never really thought about it too because when you buy a new makeup product, you expect it to be new & not made 2 years ago!
I did this the other day and was appalled at how many products I am using that are technically expired. I wish companies would clearly state an expiration date.
It would be great if all makeup had expiration dates on the packaging then you wouldn’t have to look up the manufacturing date or play the guessing game of how long it’s been sitting on the shelf
Good to know. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
OK…I have a lot of makeup to check! Thank you! 💖
You’re welcome! 😊
This has made me want to check the dates on my makeup now, so freaky to think it has been on the shelf for so long xx
It is crazy when a product has been sitting on a shelf for 2 years & you don’t know that until you check the batch code!