EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE PAO (PERIOD AFTER OPENING)

ALWAYS COMPLY WITH THE PERIOD AFTER OPENING OF YOUR PRODUCTS 

 

It’s time to take note, serial hoarders! 

 

Today it’s above all (but not only) to you that we’re talking.

 

You whose bathroom is covered not in tiles but in open products, because ‘using the same old shampoo is sooo boring’, you who don’t have one but 3 or 4 make-up bags, because ‘I still have that electric blue eyeshadow I wore at school’.

 

WE CAN SEE YOU!

 

Well, let us tell you that most of those open products have expired and can’t be used anymore and, in some cases, can be harmful! So we’re going to say it right now: when you’ve finished reading this article, take the plunge and get ready for some decluttering.

 

WHAT IS THE PERIOD AFTER OPENING: WHAT PAO MEANS

 

Yes, even cosmetics have a beginning and an end.

 

More specifically, cosmetic products like creams (but also make-up) have 2 reference dates that establish the end of their lifespan:

• - The best before date
• - The PAO - ‘Period after opening’

 

The ‘best before date’ refers to the sealed product and is the date by which the cosmetic product must maintain its characteristics and must ensure the end user’s health and safety. 

 

It is not often found on products because it is not mandatory for products with a lifespan longer than 30 months (we find it instead on products that are a bit fresher, like face masks). 

 

For products with a lifespan longer than 30 months, on the other hand, it is mandatory to state the PAO ‘period after opening’, which starts from the time the product is opened for the first time and indicates the time within which the product can be used safely and without harmful effects for the consumer. 

 

The PAO is easy to spot and is usually found on the back or bottom of a cosmetic product.

 

You will recognise it because it is a stylised drawing of a tub with a raised lid showing the number of months within which it should be used from the date of opening, followed by the letter ‘M’.

 

Here you go:

 

 

 

HOW THE PAO IS ESTABLISHED

 

Cosmetic products are formulated and developed to remain stable, safe and effective for a given period of time.

 

Their lifespan, before and after opening, is established by the manufacturer during the development of the cosmetic product, based on specific tests regarding the effectiveness of the preservatives, the type of formulation, its stability and even the type of packaging used.

 

The determination of the PAO is and remains, therefore, the responsibility of the manufacturer. 

 

Indicating this time limit is very important because, when included on the labelling and packaging of cosmetic products, it informs all users to use the products by the time limit and, therefore properly and without risks.

 

USING CREAMS AFTER OPENING: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO OBERSVE THE PAO AND EXPIRY DATE

 

Observing the PAO stated on cosmetics protects your skin.

 

Once open, contact with the air tends to deteriorate and alter the stability of the formula, by causing the proliferation of bacteria and micro-organisms that can be harmful and cause unpleasant adverse reactions (pimples, blisters and irritation), particularly on reactive and sensitive skin.

 

To help you out, here are some tips to follow:

 

• Do not open a cosmetic product unless you intend to use it immediately(don’t open a new eyeshadow just to do a colour test or a new eye contour cream just to feel its texture, you must resist the temptation!)
• Once open, try to use it all, without switching between products. For each type of cosmetic, it is much better to only have 1 or 2 products on the go, instead of chopping and changing, so that you finish them before the dreaded period after opening comes to an end. 
• If you have lost count of the monthsor don’t know how long a product has been open, check its texture, smell and colour your self. If it has caked, doesn’t smell right or has become yellow, its time is up and the product is past its best. Don’t use it, dispose of it without delay!
• Have a decluttering session and get rid of products that have been open for a while. And we don’t means just creams and face masks, but make-up too. We know that some of you collect lipsticks and nail polishes. Well, just so you know, lipsticks and nail polishes last for 12 months after opening, It’s up to you... (sorry, we can just see you tearing your hair out after this terrible news).

 

 

THE PAO OF VERALAB PRODUCTS

 

We subject our products to all the tests required to ensure you safety and reliability, including those to establish the PAO.

 

On Veralab products, the PAO can be found on the outer packs, on the rear of the products and also in the online shop.

 

There are, however, certain exceptions: the PAO symbol is not mandatory for the packaging of cosmetics that, by their nature, do not pose a concrete risk of alteration, such as single-dose packs (like our Eye patches and Wraps.

 

This is because it would be meaningless as - being single-dose packs - once opened they are used and finished in one shot!

 

We have created a table that you can print out and fill in with the products that you have purchased and are using, so you never miss an expiry date:

 

Now we will leave you to explore the darkest corners of your bathroom, in search of ancient relics!

 

 

Let us know in the comments which products you threw out and replaced after reading this article.

 

Go on, take the plunge!