Have you ever looked at your skincare product or sheet mask and saw a few numbers printed on the packaging, then was like, “Oh, I wonder what this means. Must be the expiration date.” Then the numbers sink in and you’re like, “WHAT 2017?! It’s 2019!” and you freak out a bit and feel the blood rushing to your head when you remember that you just bought this product a few months ago... like, wait WHAT?!?! 😱

Well, FaceTory Fam, good news: your skin care product is A- OK! 👌 Korean beauty products have a slightly different labeling system and we’re here to explain it all to you! Read on to learn how to read expiration dates so you can get the most out of your beauty products! 💆‍♀️

How do I read the date on the label? 

In Korea, beauty and skincare companies can print 2 different dates on their packaging:

1. The manufacturing date
2. The expiration date

The labels will have either of the two words printed on the product:

제조: Manufactured 
까지: Until [the date]

Why are the 2 dates necessary?🤔 To ensure that you receive fresh products all the time, allowing you to get the most of your products! 😉

Also, be sure to take note of the order of the date, as it can vary! Sometimes, it can be read as  YYYY/MM/DD. (Year, Month, Date), YY/MM/DD, or even DD/MM/YY(YY)! If you're ever wondering, definitely reach out to the brand you bought the product from so that they can confirm the correct way to read it. 

Here are some examples of dates that can be on your product: 

Reads "until 2021/03/11", which means that this product expires on March 11, 2021. 

Reads "manufactured 2018/10/02", which means that this product should expire around 2021. 

Additionally, the shelf life of your product after opening is also important to consider. If any of the following changes, then it is probably best not to continue using that product:

• Color
• Smell
• Texture

And of course, this goes without saying, if you feel any uncomfortable sensations (burning or itching) then definitely don’t continue to use the product! If you feel like you’re having a reaction to a product, check the date and also check the ingredients, because you may be allergic to an ingredient in the product. Overall, if something feels off, don’t risk it!

How do I keep track of the expiration dates?

• Document them. Have a little calendar or notebook for your skin care and write down the expiration dates and when you opened them. It will save you the headache of trying to remember later down the line. Or even simpler, just sharpie the date you opened your product onto the label! 
• Organize your sheet masks and file them by expiration date so you know when you have to use them by and so they don’t get lost in your glorious pile of sheet masks.

The main point is just to keep track of your items so you can get the most use out of them! Luckily skincare and makeup products have a long life, and if stored correctly it can last even longer! Check out the shelf life of your products below 👇👇

Thanks for reading and as always, just keep glowing!

Love,