I'm not talking about the date on a can of food or on the back of the milk carton. Often ignored yet equally important are the expiration dates on our cosmetics and skin care products. Did you even know that your moisturizer has an expiration date? Have you ever noticed the specific symbol on some containers that indicates how long you should keep it? The EU Cosmetics Directive created the PAO symbol (period after opening) and made it mandatory for all skin care products sold in the 25 countries of the EU. Although not required by law, a growing number of companies selling in North America have added the PAO that symbol onto their products. The PAO symbol is a small container with a number followed by the letter M, indicating the suggested number of months before you need to replace it. It serves as a general guideline and a gentle reminder It's found on many natural products and as far as I am concerned, this is fabulous; it means that products aren't loaded with artificial preservatives that can make them last for years. Depending on the product, shelf life can vary from a few months to a couple of years depending on the product. You probably shouldn't push it any longer than one year - never use a product with an expired PAO date. If your product doesn't have one then scribble the date you bought it. This will take less than a minute and help you out a lot a few months down the road. Some products, like Pomega5 is go so far as to suggest refrigeration to preserve and prolong the fresh plant based ingredients! Skin care in my fridge? Cool! As is true with anything, the PAO labeling system has its exceptions and limitations; there is no way to take into consideration how each person uses, cleans, stores, or shares their products - all of those factors can significantly reduce shelf life. Companies have tried to make an educated guess with this number but you'll have to be smart and pay close attention. Take inventory of your cosmetics and skin care products from time to time. If anything smells weird, has changed color, or has a funky consistency / texture (or resembles sour milk in any way!) it is time to toss it - regardless of whether you have used more than a drop. Not only can expired cosmetics contain bacteria, they also become ineffective after an extended period of time. THROW IT AWAY, PLEASE! So I'm giving you permission to throw away that discontinued blue eye liner you have been holding onto -- just in case it comes back into style. Toss it out! Buy new with a current PAO date. Then you can be happy knowing your products are all safe, fresh, and effective.