Direct answer: Record the date you opened a cosmetic separately from its batch identity and any expiry instruction. Do not decode an unfamiliar batch code by guessing. Absence of a printed expiry date is not evidence of unlimited shelf life.
Source and applicable scope
FDA’s U.S. cosmetic shelf-life page says shelf life varies with the product, use and storage. It distinguishes ordinary cosmetics from products regulated as drugs, including some sunscreens, and explains the differing expiry requirements. Manufacturers remain responsible for shelf life. These U.S. distinctions are not universal rules for every market. FDA — cosmetic shelf life and expiration dating.
A practical record
| Record | What to capture | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Exact product and readable batch code | A date inferred from unfamiliar characters |
| Opening | Your actual first-opening date | Manufacture or expiry date |
| Directions | Printed storage and shelf-life instruction | A generic duration for every formula |
| Uncertainty | Manufacturer’s product-specific answer | Safety established by appearance alone |
How to check the details
- Retain the package and batch identity when seeking clarification.
- Write the actual opening date when known; label an estimate as an estimate.
- Follow the exact storage and expiry directions, including requirements for products that are also drugs.
- Contact the manufacturer about an unclear code or instruction; do not rely on an unofficial decoder as confirmed evidence.
Example and editorial limits
A receiving record can say “batch copied; opening date known; manufacturer clarification pending.” That is more useful than merging all three fields into one guessed expiry. We have not performed stability or microbiological testing and cannot certify a stored product as safe. This worksheet is for traceable information, not a medical assessment or a universal discard timetable. Product-specific directions and applicable local requirements take priority.
Editorial note: Sources checked on 9 October 2026. Tables and examples are editorial synthesis. No product tests, salon visits, customer results or disposal audits were conducted for this article.
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