The open-jar symbol is a period-after-opening (PAO) label. In the European Union, a jar marked “12M” identifies the period after opening indicated for the cosmetic under EU labelling rules; it does not tell you the manufacturing date or create one universal expiry rule for every market and product.
EU Regulation 1223/2009 distinguishes a minimum-durability date from the PAO symbol. Which label applies depends partly on the product’s durability. For a hair mask or styling product, use the information on that package and the market where it was sold.
A simple label-reading record
| Label clue | What to record | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Open jar + 12M/24M | The printed period and the date you first opened the product | Its manufacturing date or a universal discard date for every country |
| Hourglass or “best before” date | The full date and any storage wording | That the product was stored under those conditions |
| Batch or lot code | A photo of the code and package | A readable production date unless the manufacturer decodes it |
| Storage wording | Where you keep the product | That appearance alone proves stability or safety |
How to use the symbol without over-reading it
- Check which country’s labelling rules apply. The PAO symbol has a defined place in EU cosmetics law; other markets may use different approaches.
- If the package shows an opening period, write down the opening date and keep the batch code with it.
- Follow the product’s storage and use directions. Heat, sunlight, moisture and repeated contact with fingers or applicators can affect cosmetics.
- Do not add water to make a product usable again. FDA specifically warns against adding water or saliva to mascara; that instruction should not be generalized to every formulation as a universal rule.
- If smell, colour, texture or packaging changes, stop using the product and ask the manufacturer about that batch. A normal appearance is not a laboratory safety test.
For the U.S. market, FDA says U.S. law generally does not require cosmetics to carry a printed expiration date, while manufacturers remain responsible for product safety. FDA separately treats some products, such as sunscreens, as drugs or both drugs and cosmetics. So a PAO mark on an imported hair mask should not be confused with a U.S. legal expiry date or a drug expiration date.
Sources and scope
- EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19 and Annex VII
- U.S. FDA: Shelf life and expiration dating of cosmetics
- U.S. FDA: Using cosmetics safely
This is label-reading guidance, not an assessment of a particular product or batch. Follow the exact package directions and contact the manufacturer if the label or batch code is unclear.
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