About manufacture date and expiration date of Korean cosmetics

Korean cosmetics manufacturers mark manufacture date or expiration date on their products. (Some manufacturers mark both of them.)

Then when is the correct expiration date?

1. If a product has its manufacture date marked

On the bottom or back of products, you can see the date marked like the following.

The Korean word ‘제조’ means ‘manufactured’. So the item in the picture was made on June 3, 2015. 

And you can calculate the expiration date based on the manufacture date.

• Toner, moisturizer, essence, cream : 3 years from the manufacture date before opening
• Makeup primer, foundation : 3 years from the manufacture date before opening
• Powder, pact : 5 years from the manufacture date before opening
• Blusher, eyeshadow, concealer, eyeliner, lipstick, lipgloss, mascara: 3 years from the manufacture date before opening
• Sunblock, cleanser : 3 years from the manufacture date before opening

They are usual expiration dates. If you see the directions included in the product like ‘Use within 24 months from the date of manufacture, and within 12 months from opening.’, then you can calculate the exact expiration date.

And you can also see the following image on the product container or box. 

It means you have to use it within 12 months from opening.

2. If a product has its expiration date marked

Korean word ‘까지’ means ‘Until’ in English. So it is simple. You can use the above product until June 9, 2017.

Some small items like lipsticks or concealers can have manufacture date or expiration date marked on the product box like below images.

And please note that codes like M18370 or N99055 have nothing to do with manufacture dates. They are just managing codes such as manufacturing factory number. 

About expiration dates of cosmetic samples

In Korea, since Feb. 2017, printing the expiration date on the sample cosmetics has been mandatory. (Please see the below image.)

So all cosmetics manufacturers in Korea mark the expiration dates on the samples.

If you have a sample without the expiration date marked, it was made before Feb 2017. And unfortunately, we can't identify its expiration date.

If you still have questions about expiration date, please email us to support@shopatkorea.net. We're here to help you.