Where it's printed
Look for six characters, like the 16S900 used here. Some begin with two letters instead of two digits. Where the mark sits varies by product; the batch code guide covers where to look.
How the code is built
The first two characters aren't used for the date, and the app skips them. The third character is the year letter and the fourth is the month. The last two are ignored.
Worked example
16S900. After the 16, the S is 2019 and the 9 is September, so this was made in September 2019. The app uses 36 months for Maybelline, which puts the best before date at September 2022. That is well past, and in November 2026 there are no months left.
The app gives this code a past date, so look at the product itself before you use it.
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 36 months for Maybelline, the same figure it uses for L'Oréal Paris. Treat it as an estimate.
Once opened, the PAO symbol is the figure to follow, the little open jar with something like 6M beside it.
Cosmetic Checker is independent and isn’t affiliated with Maybelline.