glossary for beauty resale
Secondhand Beauty Resale Market Terms
Navigating the secondhand beauty world? You're in the right place.
At Glou, we believe the more you know, the better you buy—and sell. This glossary was created to help both new and seasoned members of the Glou community understand the unique language, jargon, shorthand, and insider terms of the beauty resale market.
Whether you're listing a shelfie full of product or hunting down a limited-edition find, understanding these terms can help you make safer, smarter, and more sustainable choices.
A - D
Authentication / Authenticity
The process of verifying that a product is genuine and not counterfeit. Especially important for prestige and luxury beauty items. Glou encourages receipts, batch codes, and other verification tools in listings.
BNIB (Brand New in Box)
Brand new, unused product in its original, sealed packaging. Considered the highest resale condition.
BNWOT (Brand New Without Tags)
New and unused, but missing tags or outer packaging. Most relevant for tools and accessories.
Cross-Posting
Listing the same item on multiple platforms (e.g., Mercari, Poshmark, eBay) to increase exposure and chances of selling.
Destash
The process of selling off a personal collection of beauty products—often done in bulk by enthusiasts, influencers, or pros.
DISO (Desperately In Search Of)
Used by buyers looking urgently for a hard-to-find or discontinued item.
Dupe
A lower-cost product similar to a more expensive or high-end item. While not exclusive to resale, it's relevant for comparison shopping.
E - L
Expiration Date (EXP)
The manufacturer’s indicated date after which a product may no longer be safe or effective. Critical when evaluating resale value and safety.
Greenwashing
When brands or products falsely promote themselves as sustainable or environmentally friendly. Important to watch for when trying to shop consciously.
Hygiene Seal
A manufacturer-applied sticker or wrap showing the product has not been opened. Essential for assessing product integrity in resale.
Limited Edition (LE)
A product produced in limited quantities or for a specific time. Often drives resale demand and price.
N - P
NIB (New in Box)
Similar to BNIB—product is new and in original packaging, but may not be sealed.
NWOB (New Without Box)
New and unused, but missing the original box. May still have inner packaging intact.
Open Box
Packaging has been opened. The product may or may not be used—clarification should be provided in the listing.
PAO (Period After Opening)
A symbol on packaging (e.g., 6M, 12M) showing how long the product is safe to use after opening. Especially important for secondhand beauty.
Pan Porn
Community term for when the bottom of a palette or compact is visible from use. Indicates heavy usage and reduced resale value, though it shows the product was well-loved.
Partial / Partially Used
The product has been used, but still contains a significant amount. Sellers often estimate what percentage remains (e.g., 80%).
Pre-owned / Pre-loved
General terms meaning the item had a previous owner. "Pre-loved" adds a more positive spin.
S - Z
Sanitized / Sanitation
The process of cleaning a product for safe resale. Powder products can sometimes be sanitized; liquids, creams, and mascara usually cannot and should not be resold if used.
Shelf Life
The total time a product remains stable and effective—includes the expiration date and PAO. Proper storage can help extend this.
Swatched
Lightly tested (e.g., on the hand or arm). No longer BNIB, but considered low usage if the rest of the product is untouched.
Used
Product has been previously used. More detail is always better (e.g., “used 3x,” “50% remaining”).
Verification
A check of either the product's legitimacy or the trustworthiness of a seller. Glou’s original marketplace included manual review and trusted seller ratings.