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WHAT THE LABEL TELLS YOU
Every pot of makeup carries a small code.
UK cosmetics law says what must be printed on the tube, compact or box: a durability mark, an ingredients list in a set order, a batch number and who is responsible for the product. Once you know the code, the back of the box tells you a lot.
12M means 12 months after opening
Decode a label
THE SHORT ANSWER
UK law sets what goes on the pack.
Most of it hides in the small print.
DURABILITY
Products that keep for 30 months or less must show a best-before date. Longer-lasting ones show an open-jar symbol with the months they are good for once opened.
Decode a labelINGREDIENTS
Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. Anything under 1% may follow in any order, and colours can come last.
Read the listIN USE
A UK study found most used makeup carried bacteria. The US FDA suggests clean applicators, no sharing and no adding water or saliva.
See the numbersA QUICK LABEL CHECK
Pick something you might see on a makeup label to find out what it means under UK cosmetics rules. The bar shows how much it tells you about when to use the product up.
Based on Article 19 of assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as published on legislation.gov.uk, and Trading Standards guidance on Business Companion. General information, not legal or medical advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
What researchers found in used makeup,
and how long mascara makers usually suggest.
79–90%
Used products found with bacteria
In a 2019 Aston University study of donated used lipsticks, lip glosses, eyeliners, mascaras and beauty blenders, 79–90% of products were contaminated with bacteria. 93% of the beauty blenders had not been cleaned.
USED MAKEUP · ASTON UNIVERSITY
2–4 months
When makers usually suggest discarding mascara
The FDA says eye-area cosmetics tend to have shorter shelf lives, and manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase.
MASCARA · US FDA
The Aston researchers said manufacturers should make expiry dates prominent and that consumers should be able to recognise the symbols on packaging.
FOUR HABITS TO TRY
None of these costs anything. They come from the FDA's consumer tips and from what the label is legally required to show.
A small sticker or a pen mark on the base turns the open-jar number into a real date.
The FDA says if mascara dries out, throw it away rather than moistening it, which introduces bacteria.
Wash sponges and brushes regularly. In the Aston study, 64% of beauty blenders had been dropped on the floor and used again.
The FDA says heat, sunlight and air can break preservatives down, so avoid hot cars and close lids after use.
THE INGREDIENTS LIST
Under UK rules the list is headed 'Ingredients' and runs in descending order of weight at the time each ingredient was added. Ingredients under 1% may follow in any order, and colours other than hair dyes can be listed at the end, using Colour Index (CI) numbers.
Fragrance appears as 'parfum' or 'aroma'. Trading Standards guidance adds that names follow the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI), so the same ingredient carries the same name on every brand.
Questions
What does the open-jar symbol with 12M mean?
It is the period after opening. Under UK rules, products that keep for more than 30 months show the open-jar symbol with the months or years the product can be used safely once opened.
Why do some products show a date instead?
Products whose minimum durability is 30 months or less must show a best-before date, after the words 'best used before the end of' or an hourglass symbol.
Why are ingredient names in Latin-looking words?
UK rules use common ingredient names from the INCI system, so the same substance has the same name on every product. Fragrance is listed as 'parfum' or 'aroma'.
How long does mascara last?
The US FDA says manufacturers usually recommend discarding mascara two to four months after purchase, because each use exposes it to bacteria and fungi.
Is it fine to share makeup or use shop testers?
The FDA advises against sharing makeup and says testers are even more likely to be contaminated. If you try one, it suggests a new, unused applicator such as a fresh cotton swab.
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