When packaging and labelling your products, you must provide shelf-life information. This can be done using either a Period After Opening (PAO) symbol or a Best Before End (BBE) date, depending on the product formulation.

For simple, single-phase products (e.g., balms, oils, butters) and products like soaps and bath bombs, we can offer guidance based on our knowledge of similar formulations and their behaviour over time. Our extensive experience and retained samples support the shelf-life data we provide.

For more complex formulations, such as emulsions, there are two methods to determine stability and shelf-life:

Observation Method: Create samples of your products and monitor changes over time and under various conditions. The longer the product remains stable, the longer the shelf-life you can assign.

Accelerated Stability Testing: Submit your samples to a laboratory for accelerated stability testing. After 18 weeks of testing, a shelf-life of over 36 months can be established.

For products like oil-in-water emulsions and other water-containing formulations, lab-based Preservative Challenge Tests are required in addition to stability observations.

We will review your formulations as part of our quote/feedback process and advise if lab-based testing is necessary, helping you avoid unnecessary costs.

Information on BBE/PAO is included in our free cosmetic label compliance document provided to all clients.