Where it's printed
Lancôme codes are seven characters long, like the 38XN0OG used here. Where the mark sits varies by product; the batch code guide covers where to look.
How the code is built
Count to the third character. That is the year letter. The fourth character is the month, written as a digit or a letter. Nothing after those two changes the date.
Worked example
38XN0OG. The third character, X, is 2023 and the fourth, N, is November, so this code reads as November 2023. The app uses 60 months for Lancôme, which puts the best before date at November 2028. In November 2026 that leaves about 24 months.
Because the shelf life behind this figure is the long one, treat the months left as a ceiling. The note on shelf life below explains where it comes from.
Variants and edge cases
The app handles the variants and edge cases for you. Some codes the rule can't date; the app says so instead of guessing.
Shelf life and the PAO symbol
The app uses 60 months for Lancôme, the long end of the range. No published Lancôme figure backs it up, and the wider L'Oréal group quotes 30 to 36 months, with fragrance lasting longer. Use the date as an upper bound and give sealed makeup and skincare less rope than a perfume.
When a product has been opened, go by the PAO symbol, the open jar with a number of months beside it.
Cosmetic Checker is independent and isn’t affiliated with Lancôme.