PAO Symbol Explained: What 6M, 12M and 24M Mean

The small open-jar picture on your cosmetic tells you how long it stays good after you open it.

What Does PAO Mean?

PAO stands for Period After Opening. The symbol is a small open jar with a number and the letter M, for example 12M. The number is the months the product is meant to be used after the first opening.

PAO vs Expiry Date

• Expiry or best-before date: how long the product lasts while it is still sealed.
• PAO: how long it lasts once the seal is broken and air, fingers and bacteria reach it.

Under EU and UK cosmetics rules, products that stay stable for 30 months or less show a date of minimum durability (often an hourglass symbol or "best before"). Products stable for longer than 30 months show the PAO symbol instead. Rules differ in other countries.

How to Use the PAO Number

Write the opening date on the pack or note it on your phone. Add the PAO months to that date. Whichever comes first, the printed expiry date or the PAO date, is when you should stop using the product.

Example: a cream with 12M opened on 1 March is best used up by 1 March the next year.

Throw It Away Sooner If…

• It smells rancid or sour.
• The colour or texture has changed or separated.
• It stung or irritated your skin or eyes.
• It was kept in heat, direct sun or a damp bathroom for a long time.

See typical ranges in our cosmetics shelf-life chart.