Period after opening, built in
The cosmetics module includes a use-within field, so PAO is part of every product, not a note you have to remember to read.
Cosmetics & personal care
Track cosmetic expiration dates and PAO
Most skincare and makeup runs on two clocks: the date on the box and how long it lasts once opened. Xpiry is a cosmetic expiration tracker that follows both and reminds you when the earlier one is getting close.
What is PAO, the open-jar symbol?
PAO stands for period after opening. It is the small open-jar icon on the back of a cosmetic, with a number and an “M” inside or next to it. The number is how many months the product stays good once you have opened it.
What does 12M mean on cosmetics?
12M means 12 months after opening. A cream marked 12M that you open on 1 March should be used up by the following 1 March — even if the date printed on the box is later. 6M means six months, 24M means two years.
PAO or a printed date?
In the EU, products with a minimum durability of 30 months or less must indicate a “best before the end of” date. Products with a minimum durability of more than 30 months must indicate the period after opening (PAO) instead, unless the concept is not relevant (Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Article 19). In the US there is no law requiring expiration dates on cosmetics, and the FDA notes that manufacturers usually recommend replacing mascara two to four months after purchase (FDA). Sunscreens are regulated as drugs in the US and must carry an expiration date.
So many products give you one date or the other, and some give you both. The honest answer to “when does this expire?” is whichever comes first.
How it works
Both dates, one reminder
Add the product
Scan or type it, snap a photo, and pick a category — Skincare, Makeup, Haircare, Fragrance — and where you keep it. Enter the printed date if there is one.
Mark it as opened
The day you open it, set the opened-on date and the use-within period from the jar — 6, 12, 24 months. Xpiry shows the date that now applies.
Get told before it turns
Xpiry tracks whichever date comes first and reminds you ahead of it, so you finish the good stuff and replace the rest.
Features
A makeup expiration tracker that fits your shelf
Whichever comes first
Enter a printed date, an opened date, or both. Xpiry always counts down to the earlier one.
Photos to tell them apart
Three nearly identical tubes? A photo on each product card shows which one you opened in spring.
Search and filter
Filter by category or storage place, or search by name, to see just the makeup bag or just the bathroom cabinet.
FAQ
Cosmetics and PAO questions
What if a product has no PAO symbol?
Use the printed date if there is one, or check the brand's website. For eye products, the FDA notes that manufacturers usually recommend replacing mascara two to four months after purchase. In Xpiry you can set any use-within period you like.
Do I have to enter both the printed date and the PAO?
No. Enter whichever the product has. If you add both, Xpiry follows the one that comes first.
Can I track sunscreen?
Yes. Sunscreen usually has a printed expiration date — add it, and mark the bottle as opened too if the label gives a period after opening.
Can I track a whole collection, not just skincare?
Yes. The cosmetics module comes with categories for skincare, makeup, haircare, body care, oral care and fragrance, and you can add your own.
Keep reading
Related pages
Medicine cabinet
Medicines, supplements and first aid, with dosage and form.
Medicine expiry tracker →Fridge and pantry
Opened-on timers work for jars and sauces too.
Food expiration tracker →Can a barcode tell you the date?
What barcodes store, and where to look for the date instead.
Read the guide →All features
Modules, backup, import and export — everything the app does.
Expiry date tracker overview →Finish it before it turns
Xpiry is free on Google Play. Add the products on your shelf, mark what is open, and let Xpiry keep count.