expiration date one year, for lotions, for me. Anything with water, even though it is preserved, I don't care, one year max. I'm not getting sued because someone uses an old lotion and gets cellulitis or some other hard to diagnose or cure infection of any kind. In our business it is CYOA( Cover Your Own A$$ (Bum) better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to consumer health. I saw someone at work had a lipbalm (left on the desk) from 1997!!!!!!!!! Holy MOLY, I can just imagine the nasties they are putting on thier lips!!!