How long does a 50 ml jar of face cream last

How much cream is one use

A common face cream amount is about a pea, which is roughly 0.3 to 0.5 ml. Some brands give their own measure. Shiseido says to scoop 2 pearl-sized drops of Future Solution LX Legendary Enmei onto the fingertips. Shiseido also says to dot Total Regenerating Cream on five points of the face and add a pearl-sized amount for the neck, which uses more per application. If you include the neck and decollete, you use more than for the face alone.

Our how much face cream to use page covers amounts in more detail.

Uses and days per 50 ml jar

The table divides 50 ml by the amount per day. Real jars also leave a little cream on the walls and under the rim, so plan for slightly less.

Cost per month for luxury jars

Monthly cost is the price per ml times the ml you use in a month. At 0.8 ml a day (0.4 ml twice), a month of 30 days uses 24 ml. The table uses listed prices for 50 ml jars from our guides.

Work out your own price per ml →

Other jar sizes

Not every luxury cream is 50 ml. Lancome Absolue The Soft Cream comes in a 1.0 oz (about 30 ml) jar, which at 0.8 ml a day lasts about 37 days. Lancome Absolue The Rich Cream is 2.0 oz (about 59 ml), which lasts about 74 days at the same rate. Augustinus Bader The Cream in 100 ml lasts about 125 days, roughly four months, at 0.8 ml a day.

Larger jars usually cost less per ml, but only make sense if you finish them within the period after opening printed on the box. Our skincare size chart converts the common sizes, and the face cream price per ml chart compares them.

Make sure you finish it in time

Look for the period-after-opening symbol on the jar or box: an open jar icon with a number and M, such as 12M for 12 months. That is the brand's guide to how long to use the product after opening. A 50 ml jar used once a day at 0.3 ml takes over five months to finish, which is within a 12M window, but a 100 ml jar used sparingly may not be. Our page on whether skincare expires explains the symbol and batch codes.

Storage matters too. Keep the lid closed, use a clean spatula instead of fingers and keep jars away from heat and direct sun. See how to store luxury skincare and how to use a cream jar spatula.

Ways to make a jar last longer

Using less than the brand suggests is a personal choice, but follow the label for products with SPF, since sunscreen needs the labeled amount. Patch test any new cream before using a full amount on your face, and ask a dermatologist if you have a skin condition. To compare jars, see the luxury face cream guide.

• Measure a pea-size amount instead of scooping by feel.
• Use the spatula so cream does not build up under fingernails.
• Use a richer cream at night only and a lighter, cheaper one in the morning.
• Scrape the walls of the jar near the end.
• Choose a refill or larger size if you finish jars well within the period after opening.

Frequently asked questions

How many uses are in a 50 ml jar? About 100 to 165 uses at 0.3 to 0.5 ml each.

Does a 50 ml jar last a month? At typical amounts, it usually lasts about two months used twice a day, longer used once a day.

How do I know how much I use? Write the opening date on the box, then note when the jar runs out and divide 50 ml by the number of days.

Is a 100 ml jar better value? It usually costs less per ml, for example $5.65 vs $6.30 for Augustinus Bader The Cream, if you finish it within the period after opening.