Value Village ／ Beauty
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Many cosmetics sold in Japan carry no expiry date, and visitors and residents from abroad often ask why. It is not an oversight. It is how the rules are designed.
Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (the country's cosmetics and drugs law) requires an expiry date only on cosmetics that could deteriorate within 3 years of manufacture. A 1980 (Shōwa 55) notice of the then Ministry of Health and Welfare names three types:
| Must show an expiry date | Reason |
|---|---|
| Products containing ascorbic acid (vitamin C)-type ingredients | Oxidise easily |
| Products containing enzymes | Activity changes |
| Products at risk of changing in character or quality within 3 years under proper storage | Comparable to the above |
All other cosmetics are exempt from date labelling on the assumption that they keep their quality for 3 years unopened and properly stored.
[Verify] Several specialist websites present this as a summary based on Article 61 of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act and the 1980 Ministry of Health and Welfare notice. Confirm against the Japan Cosmetic Industry Association "Cosmetics Q&A" and the original legal texts.
No label and no deterioration are two different things. The lot number printed on the base or back of the container is a clue to when it was made.
The 3-year assumption is for unopened products. Once opened, the product meets air and hands. The industry's general guidance is to use products up within a few months to a year of opening.
Separation, odour and colour change are obvious signs, but change is not always visible. Do not judge by appearance alone.
Chilling does not extend the period after opening. The basics of storage are to avoid direct sunlight, heat and humidity. The washbasin area (洗面所, senmenjo) and bathroom are humid and unsuitable.
A dirty sponge or brush carries contamination into the product. Think about the cleanliness of your tools as well.
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https://www.jcia.org/user/public/faq
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/keshouhin/index.html
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.
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