MAC's UK gift-card terms set different expiry rules for cards purchased before September 28, 2026 and those bought on or after that date.

Earlier purchases expire on September 28, 2028, according to the official terms and the retailer's card-status FAQ. Cards purchased from September 28 expire two years after issuance.

The distinction creates a fixed end date for the earlier purchase cohort and a rolling period for subsequent cards. The documentation does not establish that earlier cards previously had unlimited validity or quantify balances affected.

Issuer terms define the usable balance

The cards are issued by Estée Lauder Cosmetics Limited trading as MAC. The conditions cover physical and electronic formats, with sterling balances available for full or partial payment at qualifying UK MAC freestanding stores and the UK website.

Department-store counters, airport locations and outlets owned by third parties are excluded. Unspent value remains on the card until expiry, when the terms say the balance is removed and the card becomes inactive.

The issuer says inactivity and service fees do not apply. September 28 is the stated purchase-policy cutoff; the pages do not provide an original announcement timestamp.