Batch Code Formats Across 6 Major Beauty Groups (2026)

2026-10-07

Most counter and duty-free brands belong to one of six big beauty groups — and within each group, brands usually share one batch code scheme. This page breaks down each group: which brands it owns, what the codes usually look like, whether they are shared, and how to check the exact date.

The short version: there is no global standard for batch codes — each group runs its own scheme; brands inside a group mostly share it, while schemes never carry across groups.

1. L'Oréal Group

• Brands: Lancôme, YSL, Armani Beauty, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura, Maybelline, Biotherm, Helena Rubinstein, and more
• Code format: usually 5–6 mixed alphanumeric characters
• Shared within the group: yes — Lancôme, YSL and Kiehl's all run on the same scheme

Note: on some Lancôme products the code is embossed on the bottle base rather than printed on the box, so check both spots.

2. Estée Lauder Companies (ELC)

• Brands: Estée Lauder, MAC, Clinique, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford Beauty, Jo Malone, Origins, Aveda, and more
• Code format: usually 3 mixed alphanumeric characters
• Shared within the group: yes — one scheme across all brands

This is the tidiest of the six groups — every brand uses a 3-character code. See the dedicated Estée Lauder guide for details.

3. LVMH Group

• Brands: Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy Beauty, Fresh, Benefit, Make Up For Ever, and more
• Code format: usually 4 mixed alphanumeric characters
• Shared within the group: broadly yes, though a few brands deviate slightly in length — trust the lookup result

4. Shiseido Group

• Brands: Shiseido, Clé de Peau Beauté (CPB), NARS, Anessa, and more
• Code format: usually 4–5 mixed alphanumeric characters
• Shared within the group: yes — the main brands share one scheme

Shiseido codes run one or two characters longer than Estée Lauder's; see the dedicated Shiseido guide.

5. Amorepacific Group

• Brands: Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Innisfree, Etude, and more
• Code format: usually no hidden date at all — Korean brands print the production date or the expiry date (YYYY.MM.DD) directly on the packaging
• Shared within the group: not applicable — just read the 제조 (manufactured) / 까지 (until) marking on the packaging

6. Procter & Gamble (P&G, beauty)

• Brands: SK-II, Olay, and more
• Code format: SK-II uses a 10-digit numeric code
• Shared within the group: no — SK-II and Olay run independent schemes, so pick the right brand when looking up

Quick reference table

Why this page stops at format level

Encoding details vary by production line, year and factory, so the "position-by-position" charts circulating online are often outdated or over-generalized — following them easily yields a wrong date. For an accurate production date, hand the code to a lookup tool that tracks each brand's rules.

How to check it accurately, in 3 steps

1. Find the code on the packaging (bottle base embossing, tube crimp, or box bottom)
2. Select the right brand and enter the code in BeautyChecker
3. Check the returned production date and shelf life; if in doubt, confirm with the brand's official customer service