{"id":404888,"date":"2026-01-10T21:23:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:23:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/404888\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T21:23:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T21:23:45","slug":"mecca-launches-investigation-after-shopper-spots-concerning-detail-on-box-isnt-always-visible-to-the-eye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/404888\/","title":{"rendered":"Mecca launches investigation after shopper spots concerning detail on box: ‘Isn\u2019t always visible to the eye’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mecca<\/a> has apologised after shoppers who picked up Boxing Day sale items<\/a> discovered a huge issue with what they purchased. The cosmetics giant<\/a> had its “biggest sale yet” just after Christmas, but some customers found their products were made in the 2010s.<\/p>\n

This was done by looking up the batch number that’s attached to the item, and Melbourne uni student Ruby Guest found her concealer was made in 2018. Another Mecca shopper discovered their eye concealer her mum bought<\/a> on December 26 was made in 2014.<\/p>\n

Mecca told Yahoo Lifestyle an urgent investigation has been launched.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re very sorry to any customer who was disappointed by a product purchased during our recent Boxing Day Sale \u2013 this is absolutely not the experience we want for anyone shopping at MECCA,” they said.<\/p>\n

“While the vast majority of products met our high standards, we acknowledge that a small portion, less than 1 per cent, fell short, and for that we sincerely apologise.”<\/p>\n

Do you have a story? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com<\/p>\n

The company said it has quality controls in place, including batch and freshness checks, to prevent this from happening.<\/p>\n

But unfortunately, it hasn’t been foolproof.<\/p>\n

“We are conducting an immediate review of our processes to understand how these products slipped through the gaps and will put measures in place to make sure this does not happen again,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

How long does makeup last?<\/p>\n

The answer to this question depends on whether the product has been opened or not.<\/p>\n

But either way, skin specialist Isabella Loneragen told Yahoo Lifestyle that most cosmetics have a shelf life of 12 to 24 months from the date of manufacture.<\/p>\n

“That timeframe exists for a reason,” she said.<\/p>\n

“Over time, active ingredients degrade, preservatives lose effectiveness, and formulations can become unstable, especially in products containing water, actives, or natural components.<\/p>\n

“This isn\u2019t always visible to the eye, but it can significantly reduce efficacy and increase the risk of irritation, sensitivity, or barrier disruption when applied to the skin.<\/p>\n

“A product manufactured as far back as 2014 would be considered well beyond acceptable cosmetic shelf life, regardless of whether it has been opened. At that age, there is no reasonable guarantee of stability, performance, or safety.”<\/p>\n

A blog post on Mecca’s website<\/a> stated that if products have been opened, their shelf life can be much smaller, but that, again, depends on the item:<\/p>\n

Products that come in close or direct contact with your eyes, like eyeliners or mascaras “shouldn\u2019t be used for longer than three to six months”.<\/p>\n

Blush, bronzer, eyeshadow and other powders are “generally good to go” for 12 to 24 months.<\/p>\n

Creams, like foundation and lipstick, “tend to stay strong” for up to 24 months, but that depends on how they’re packaged<\/p>\n

Natural products have a shorter shelf-life than the above because they have “minimal preservatives”<\/p>\n

For skincare like cleansers, serums and creams, a “blanket rule of six” to 12 months from opening “is your safest bet”<\/p>\n

Mecca said the best way to know is by looking for the POA symbol that’s found on “almost every beauty product”.<\/p>\n

It stands for period after opening and will tell you how many months it’s acceptable to use once you crack it open.<\/p>\n

“Once that time is up, the preservative system doesn\u2019t become immediately ineffective, but it might start to become a little bit less effective,” Mecca said.<\/p>\n

What should you do if you bought something from Mecca?<\/p>\n

Batch codes can be found on the packaging of virtually every product available for sale in Australia.<\/p>\n

These help retailers track down items thanks to their unique code.<\/p>\n

Some codes are repeated every 10 years.<\/p>\n

Once you find the code, you can put it into a site like Check Fresh<\/a>, and it will tell you when the product was made.<\/p>\n

This is exactly what Ruby did when she picked up five items during last year’s Boxing Day sale.<\/p>\n

SHOP:<\/p>\n

“I don’t understand how we are allowing this. Where have our standards gone?” she said in a TikTok video.<\/p>\n

Mecca told Yahoo Lifestyle that people who are concerned with their products can bring them back if they wish.<\/p>\n

“We have a generous returns policy and encourage any customer who is not completely satisfied with their purchase to contact us so we can arrange a refund, no questions asked,” they said.<\/p>\n

Want the latest lifestyle and entertainment news? Make sure to follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram, <\/a>and TikTok<\/a>. <\/p>\n