Health & Beauty / Guide
How to Track When You Opened Your Makeup
Use opening dates and product labels to keep track of cosmetics and notice when a formula changes.
If you have two mascaras or creams that look alike, it can be hard to remember which one you opened first. Give each product a small date label when you start using it. Put it somewhere that doesn’t cover instructions or batch information.
Read the label before assigning a date
Check for an expiration date, storage directions or a period-after-opening symbol. Use the manufacturer’s instructions for that specific product. The FDA’s cosmetics shelf-life guidance explains that shelf life varies with product type, use and storage. U.S. cosmetics generally don’t have a universal expiration-date labeling requirement.
Store for easy inspection
Keep products in a clean, dry location as their labels direct. Check for a change in odor, color or texture before using an item you haven’t opened in a while. Pay particular attention to eye products and follow FDA’s guidance if an eye infection occurs. Avoid adding water to an old formula to make it usable again.
Use the system when shopping
Check the open product before buying a backup. Keeping one item open at a time makes it easier to track and finish it. If a product’s label is hard to read, take a photo when it’s new and keep the image with your opening date.