A mascara expiration date can be hard to find—or may not appear as a calendar date at all. Look for an open-jar symbol with a number and the letter M, such as 3M or 6M. That is the product’s Period After Opening (PAO): the number of months the manufacturer advises using it after you first open it. Note that date, follow the label, and replace the tube when that period ends.
How To Read A Mascara Expiration Date
The PAO clock starts when you open the product, not when you buy it. A 6M mark means six months from first opening. It does not tell you how long the mascara will last once it is opened only occasionally, and it is not a test of whether a particular tube is contaminated. It is the manufacturer’s guidance for the product’s use after opening.
If you cannot remember when you opened a tube, start marking the date on the packaging or in your phone when you open the next one. That gives you a practical way to follow the label without having to guess later.
In the United States, cosmetic labels are not required to show a specific shelf life or expiration date. The FDA says manufacturers are responsible for product safety and usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase. That is general guidance, not a single legally required deadline for every brand. It also uses purchase as the reference point, while a PAO label counts from opening—so check the product’s own instructions when available.
Why Labels Differ By Region
There is no one global system for cosmetic expiry labels. In the European Union, cosmetics with an unopened lifespan of more than 30 months must carry a PAO label. So a product sold there may tell you how long to use it after opening rather than give you a calendar expiration date. The symbol helps make that timing visible, but you still need to remember when you first opened the tube.
Packaging can vary between markets and products. If you buy mascara in the UK or Australia, use the instructions on that specific pack rather than assuming that US labeling conventions apply. A missing printed expiration date does not mean a tube has unlimited shelf life.
What Is Known About Contamination Risk
Each use exposes mascara to bacteria and fungi, which is why the FDA notes that eye-area cosmetics tend to have shorter shelf lives than many other cosmetics. Microbiological research on used cosmetics has found contamination, with expired products showing the highest contamination in the studies cited in research on PAO labels. Those findings do not tell you the chance that any particular mascara tube is contaminated, or establish a mascara-specific rate. The risk is not something you can reliably judge just by looking at a tube.
A 2025 qualitative study by Yujiao Wang and colleagues interviewed 33 cosmetics users and company employees in the UK and China. Participants described weighing health concerns against other factors, including the cost of replacing a product. The interviews help explain why people may ignore a label, but they did not measure contamination or the likelihood of infection. For your own decision, treat the PAO as useful manufacturer guidance—not proof that a product is safe right up to the last day, or unsafe the moment the period ends.
When To Throw Out Mascara
Follow the PAO on the pack, or the manufacturer’s instructions if there is no symbol. Replace mascara sooner if its smell, color, or texture changes; these can be signs of deterioration. Do not share eye cosmetics: another person’s germs may contaminate the product. Avoid trying to extend its life based on how much is left in the tube or whether it still looks normal.
If you have a bad reaction while using eye cosmetics, contact a healthcare professional. The label is a simple tool for keeping track of a product’s recommended use period; it cannot predict an individual reaction or diagnose an eye problem.