Retail product barcode
The EAN/UPC number identifies the retail item, not its individual manufacturing lot. A repeated number on matching products can therefore be their shared product identifier.
Batch code
The manufacturing lot is a separate identifier assigned to a production group. Look for its label and preserve the complete marking, including letters and leading zeros.
What to enter
Choose the brand, identify the manufacturing lot from the package label or product instructions, and copy it in full. Length alone is not a reliable way to select it; never trim another number to fit.
Shade code, SKU, serial number, and product reference
A shade code identifies a color; a SKU or product reference identifies the item sold; a serial or registry number may identify a package or filing. None of these automatically identifies the production lot.
Identify the manufacturing-lot mark on the original box or container from its label or the product instructions. Preserve letters and leading zeroes.
A practical package check
Identify the retail EAN/UPC so you can keep it separate from the manufacturing lot, then inspect the box flap, bottle or jar base, tube crimp, label edge, and small stickers. Compare outer and inner codes without joining them.
If two codes differ, keep both exactly as printed and use the box-and-bottle guide. A plausible code can support production context but cannot prove authenticity.
Can a cosmetic barcode reveal an expiry date?
A retail UPC or EAN barcode identifies the product line for checkout and cataloging; it normally does not contain the item-specific production date or expiry date. Scanning it may identify the product, not when that unit was made.
To check cosmetic expiry from packaging, use a clearly printed expiry date when available. Otherwise identify the complete manufacturing batch or lot code and combine its production estimate with PAO, opening date, storage, and condition.