How to Read Codes and Symbols on Hygiene Products

On supermarket and pharmacy shelves, many hygiene products carry codes, numbers and symbols that are often overlooked. Yet they provide relevant details about ingredients, expiry dates, directions for use and origin. Knowing how to read this information helps you use products more safely, prevent waste, lower health and environmental risks, and make more informed purchasing decisions.

How can you identify expiry dates and periods of use on hygiene products?

An expiry date may be shown as a full date, as only a month and year, or through English abbreviations such as EXP (expiration) or Best Before. On smaller packs, you will often see an embossed numeric or alphanumeric code. Part of this code may identify the production date and the rest the batch, so you need to check the format used by the manufacturer.

If an explicit expiry date is not provided, the manufacturer will usually state the usable period from the date of manufacture. In these situations, check whether further details appear elsewhere on the pack or in an enclosed leaflet, and avoid using products that are out of date or whose stability may have been affected.

Watch a video on the Manual do Mundo YouTube channel explaining the meaning of codes, expiry symbols and industrial seals printed on everyday packaging:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFw0vN-G3oI

How does the open-jar symbol and period after opening work?

Many cosmetics and personal hygiene products display an open-jar icon marked 6M, 12M or 24M. This is the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol, which states how long the product can be safely used once opened, provided it is stored under the conditions specified on the label.

PAO is not the same as an expiry date printed with a day, month and year. A product may still be within its official expiry date but have exceeded the safe period after opening. For this reason, many people write the opening date on the packaging itself, particularly for creams, lotions and make-up, which are more vulnerable to heat, air and direct contact with hands.

Which symbols show ingredients, safety information and environmental disposal guidance?

The ingredients of hygiene products are listed on the packaging, often using internationally standardised INCI nomenclature. Seals and icons may also summarise important features, such as the absence of alcohol, fragrance or certain active ingredients, whether animal testing has been carried out, or the use of renewable-source ingredients.

Symbols can also provide guidance on safe use and environmental impact, making it easier to identify special time limits, warnings and the types of plastic used in packaging. Common examples include:

• Open jar marked “6M”, “12M” or “24M”: shows the safe period of use after opening.
• Book icon or a hand over a leaflet: indicates that additional instructions are available in a leaflet or fold-out label.
• Triangle of arrows with a number (1, 2, 5): identifies the plastic type, such as PET, HDPE or PP, which is useful for recycling.
• Hourglass or “best used before”: highlights time limits that may affect texture, colour or fragrance.
• Warning symbols and prominent statements: flag usage restrictions, such as keeping the product away from children or not applying it to broken skin.

How can codes, batch numbers and QR Codes be used day to day?

As well as expiry information and ingredients, the batch code-usually printed on the bottom of a bottle, the side of a tube or the flap of a carton-is vital for traceability. It enables the manufacturer to quickly identify the production date and location if there are complaints, recalls or quality queries. Consumers may find it useful to keep this information with their receipt.

Imported products and newer ranges commonly feature both a standard barcode and a QR Code on the same pack. The barcode supports stock and sales control, while the QR Code may link to websites containing technical data sheets, safety reports, testing details and directions for use. By paying attention to these codes and symbols, consumers can better understand what each product offers, how it should be stored, when it should be discarded and the most suitable destination for its packaging after use.