What does 12M mean on makeup?
What it does mean: The “period-after-opening symbol' tells you how long your product is good for after opening. If the open jar has a 12M on it, know that it will expire 12 months after breaking the seal, popping the lid, etc.
Numbered jar
That's where this symbol comes in. The M stands for “months,” and the number indicates—you guessed it—how many months this jar or bottle will last. So a “12 M” product will last a year, but you can hold on to a “24 M” bottle for two.
Usually comes with a number and M letter. M capital letter is shorting for Months. The number in front of M shows how many months the product can be used after the first opening. The most common symbols show 3M, 6M,12M, 24M or 36M, meaning 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years.
It normally says something like 6M, 12M, or 18M on it - and here's why you should pay attention. The 30M signifies 30 months ( Trounce/Wikipedia)
It indicates how long the product is safe for use after opening. “12M” in this example means that the product will be good for 12 months after opening. The quantity is typically in “M” for months, and the number of months can vary.
Look to the bottom of your packaging for a stamp with an expiration date. If you can't find one, look for a symbol with an open jar and a letter m to indicate how long your product will last after opening. For example, 12m means your product is good for 12 months after you first open it.
The letter M stands for months, so if you see a product with this symbol reading 6M, it means it'll only last for six months after you've opened it.
The expiration date
This can be found via a symbol depicting an open lid with a number and the letter 'm' to signify the number of months. For example, 24m means 24 months, or 2 years.
These makeup packaging symbols tell us how long makeup products are good for once they are opened. The M stands for months; so if your blush packaging has the open jar symbol with 24M, it simply means that once opened, the shelf-life of the blush is two years.
The time period is most often represented compactly as a number of months, followed by the letter "M", as in "36M" for a period of thirty-six months, written either onto the front side of the depicted pot or to the right or bottom of it.
What does 3M on a jar mean?
SO, if your open jar symbol shows, for example, '3M', you need to stop using that product 3 months after you open it. This usually is in place of an expiration date.
How can you tell it's expired? All makeup should be stamped with an image of an open jar, then a number followed by the letter M. This Period After Opening (PAO) symbol signifies how many months after opening until the product expires.

The Leaping Bunny: The leaping bunny symbol is an internationally recognized logo that signifies that the manufacturer does not perform any animal testing and conforms to the standards set by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics' (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program.
You can determine the lifespan of your makeup product through the PAO, or Period After Opening, symbol which looks like a container with a lifted lid with an indicated number followed by the letter M.
Relates to product shelf life. This hourglass means our product has an expiration date of 3 years from its production date and that it must not be used after said date. Date of manufacture. Indicates the month and year of production and from when the expiration date must be counted.
In cases where the shelf life exceeds 30 months an expiration date is not required to be placed on the packing, however a period after opening (PAO) is. Period after opening (PAO) refers to the amount of time a product will remain stable and safe for human use after it has first been opened.
Yes, makeup DOES expire
Liquid foundation generally lasts for 12 months, while mascara and eyeliner only stretch for three. Lip products will generally go for around two years, but can begin deteriorating earlier if used frequently.
Your skin may react to product ingredients if they have reached their expiration date. This could lead to redness or irritation. If bacteria get into an open container or onto a brush, they can multiply rapidly and cause breakouts or other infections.
How long does makeup last? As a guideline: Foundation, primer, blush and eyeshadow may last up to 2 years. Lipstick should last for one year after it is opened. Eye makeup such as mascara and eyeliner would need to be replaced every three months.
Ingredient order
Ingredients are listed in descending order from greatest amount to least amount present in the product (except ingredients present at a concentration of less than 1%; those can be listed in any order).
What does the e mean on beauty products?
E-MARK. In the European Union, a lowercase “e” is the estimated sign (sometimes called an e-mark), which indicates that, across all of the cosmetics manufactured, the average volume or weight of the products is the same as the number on the label, per EU law.
- Ingredients. ...
- Warning Signs. ...
- Source of Ingredients. ...
- Manufacturing And Expiry Dates. ...
- Colour of The Product. ...
- Temperature. ...
- Serums/Creams/Lotions. ...
- Pregnancy And Lactation Warning.
Since 1938, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) has provided the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate cosmetics and personal care products.
The two most important laws pertaining to cosmetics marketed in the United States are the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) . FDA regulates cosmetics under the authority of these laws. In the United States, federal laws are enacted by Congress.