Type the batch (lot) code from your Q-tips product — skincare, makeup or perfume — and we decode the manufacture date, how old it is, and an expiration estimate.
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On real Q-tips packaging (made by Unilever PLC) — green is the code, red is not (the barcode, article number or open-jar symbol):
The Q-tips batch code — also called the lot code, lot number or serial number — is a short 4–8 character stamp of letters and numbers, usually embossed rather than printed in ink, and it is never the barcode. On a bottle or jar look at the base; on a tube look near the crimp/seal at the end; on a boxed perfume or fragrance check a flap or side of the box; on makeup check the underside of the compact or inside the pan.
Q-tips codes encode the production date.
Most unopened cosmetics and fragrances keep for about 30–36 months from manufacture. Once opened, follow the PAO (open-jar) symbol — it usually matters more than any printed expiration date.
We've read 10 Q-tips batch codes so far, the newest was made June 2026, and the typical Q-tips product people check here is about 21 months old.
Can the batch code tell me if my Q-tips is authentic? Not on its own. A code that decodes to a sensible date is a good sign, but counterfeiters copy real codes from genuine packs, so a valid code cannot prove a Q-tips product is authentic. Buy from Q-tips or an authorised retailer, and compare the packaging, print quality and seal with one you know is genuine.
Yes — like all cosmetics and fragrances, Q-tips products have a limited shelf life. Unopened they typically last 30–36 months from the manufacture date, and the batch code above tells you how old yours already is. After opening, the PAO (open-jar) symbol — e.g. "12M" — is a better guide than any printed expiration date.
← Batch code checker for every brand · Full ingredient breakdown in the ingredient checker.
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