diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/features/shell/app-shell-shortcuts.svelte.ts b/cometline/src/lib/features/shell/app-shell-shortcuts.svelte.ts
index 5c3f6075..95ffd9ef 100644
--- a/cometline/src/lib/features/shell/app-shell-shortcuts.svelte.ts
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/features/shell/app-shell-shortcuts.svelte.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { openSettings } from '#lib/actions/open-settings.js';
 import { shouldUseWorkspacePanelHistory } from '#lib/features/shell/focus-nav.js';
 import { isReloadShortcut, matchesShortcut, type ShortcutAction } from '#lib/keyboard-shortcuts.js';
 import { inboxStore } from '#lib/stores/inbox.svelte.js';
+import { skillUpdatesStore } from '#lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.js';
 import { sessionStore } from '#lib/stores/session.svelte.js';
 import { settingsStore } from '#lib/stores/settings.svelte.js';
 import { shellStore } from '#lib/stores/shell.svelte.js';
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ export function createAppShellShortcuts(deps: {
 			case 'openSkillDrafts':
 				if (shellStore.settingsOpen) shellStore.closeSettings();
 				inboxStore.closeDrawer();
+				skillUpdatesStore.markSeen();
 				void goto(resolve('skills'));
 				return;
 			case 'openGallery':
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/features/sidebar/components/sidebar/SidebarFooter.svelte b/cometline/src/lib/features/sidebar/components/sidebar/SidebarFooter.svelte
index 29d119b8..1bc5623c 100644
--- a/cometline/src/lib/features/sidebar/components/sidebar/SidebarFooter.svelte
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/features/sidebar/components/sidebar/SidebarFooter.svelte
@@ -36,7 +36,10 @@
 			class="nav-badge"
 			class:has-badge={skillDraftsStore.hasDrafts || skillUpdatesStore.hasUnseen}
 			class:active={page.url.pathname === '/skills' || page.url.pathname === '/skill-drafts'}
-			onclick={() => goto(resolve('skills'))}
+			onclick={() => {
+				skillUpdatesStore.markSeen();
+				void goto(resolve('skills'));
+			}}
 			><Sparkles size={16} stroke-width={1.8} /></button
 		>
 	</Tooltip>
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/components/skills-page/SkillsBrowseView.svelte b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/components/skills-page/SkillsBrowseView.svelte
index 2f8525a1..3f591a45 100644
--- a/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/components/skills-page/SkillsBrowseView.svelte
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/components/skills-page/SkillsBrowseView.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import type { SkillsPageController } from '#lib/features/skills/skills-page-controller.svelte.js';
 	import type { SkillResource } from '#lib/types.js';
+	import { skillExpiryLabel } from '#lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.js';
 	import { skillUpdatesStore } from '#lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.js';
 	import SkillsListPanel from './SkillsListPanel.svelte';
 	import SkillsListRow from './SkillsListRow.svelte';
@@ -14,9 +15,20 @@
 			: `${controller.filteredSkills.length} / ${controller.skills.length}`
 	);
 
+	function previewNotice(page: SkillsPageController): string {
+		const skill = page.selectedSkill?.skill;
+		if (!skill) return '';
+		if (!page.canEditSkill) return 'This bundled skill is read-only.';
+		if (skill.origin !== 'self-improvement') return '';
+		if (skill.pinned) return 'Pinned. This skill does not expire.';
+		return skillExpiryLabel(skill.expires_at, skill.status, Date.now(), skill.pinned);
+	}
+
 	function badgesFor(skill: SkillResource): string[] {
 		const badges: string[] = [];
 		if (skill.origin === 'self-improvement') badges.push('self-improvement');
+		const expiry = skillExpiryLabel(skill.expires_at, skill.status, Date.now(), skill.pinned);
+		if (expiry) badges.push(expiry);
 		if (skill.status === 'stale') badges.push('stale');
 		if (skill.pinned) badges.push('pinned');
 		if (skill.is_symlink) badges.push('symlink');
@@ -81,7 +93,7 @@
 	emptyLabel="Select a skill to preview it."
 	item={controller.selectedSkill?.skill ?? null}
 	path={controller.selectedSkill?.skill.path}
-	notice={controller.canEditSkill ? '' : 'This bundled skill is read-only.'}
+	notice={previewNotice(controller)}
 	readonly={!controller.canEditSkill}
 	bind:value={controller.skillContent}
 >
@@ -129,8 +141,19 @@
 	<section class="archived-skills">
 		<h2>Archived</h2>
 		{#each controller.archived as skill (skill.name)}
+			{@const expiry = skillExpiryLabel(
+				skill.expires_at,
+				'archived',
+				Date.now(),
+				skill.pinned
+			)}
 			<div class="archived-row">
-				<span>{skill.name}</span>
+				<span>
+					{skill.name}
+					{#if expiry}
+						<span class="expiry">{expiry}</span>
+					{/if}
+				</span>
 				<button
 					type="button"
 					class="secondary"
@@ -149,6 +172,11 @@
 		margin-top: 12px;
 	}
 
+	.expiry {
+		margin-left: 8px;
+		color: var(--text-muted);
+	}
+
 	.archived-row {
 		display: flex;
 		align-items: center;
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.test.ts b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..249d7072
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { skillExpiryLabel } from './skill-expiry';
+
+const now = Date.parse('2026-10-08T00:00:00Z');
+const day = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+describe('skillExpiryLabel', () => {
+	it('says when an active skill archives', () => {
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(now + 20 * day, 'active', now)).toBe('archives in 20 days');
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(now + day, 'stale', now)).toBe('archives in 1 day');
+	});
+
+	it('says when an archived skill deletes', () => {
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(now + 7 * day, 'archived', now)).toBe('deletes in 7 days');
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(now - day, 'archived', now)).toBe('deletes today');
+	});
+
+	it('is empty when the skill does not expire', () => {
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(undefined, 'active', now)).toBe('');
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(0, 'active', now)).toBe('');
+		expect(skillExpiryLabel(now + day, 'active', now, true)).toBe('');
+	});
+});
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.ts b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4d8d8575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/features/skills/skill-expiry.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const dayMs = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+export function skillExpiryLabel(
+	expiresAt: number | undefined,
+	status: string | undefined,
+	now = Date.now(),
+	pinned = false
+): string {
+	if (!expiresAt || pinned) return '';
+	const days = Math.ceil((expiresAt - now) / dayMs);
+	const verb = status === 'archived' ? 'deletes' : 'archives';
+	if (days <= 0) return `${verb} today`;
+	if (days === 1) return `${verb} in 1 day`;
+	return `${verb} in ${days} days`;
+}
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/generated/cometmind-api/types.gen.ts b/cometline/src/lib/generated/cometmind-api/types.gen.ts
index ce732e36..f6206ef1 100644
--- a/cometline/src/lib/generated/cometmind-api/types.gen.ts
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/generated/cometmind-api/types.gen.ts
@@ -581,6 +581,10 @@ export type Skill = {
      */
     status?: 'active' | 'stale' | 'archived';
     pinned?: boolean;
+    /**
+     * Unix milliseconds when an unpinned self-improvement skill is archived or an archived one is deleted. Omitted when pinned or not self-improvement.
+     */
+    expires_at?: number;
     /**
      * Optional tags from the skill frontmatter, used by the skills page filter.
      */
diff --git a/cometline/src/lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.test.ts b/cometline/src/lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.test.ts
index b53f7e0f..1fb98d67 100644
--- a/cometline/src/lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.test.ts
+++ b/cometline/src/lib/stores/skill-updates.svelte.test.ts
@@ -22,5 +22,10 @@ describe('skillUpdatesStore', () => {
 
 		skillUpdatesStore.note(['ship-checklist']);
 		expect(skillUpdatesStore.hasUnseen).toBe(false);
+
+		skillUpdatesStore.note(['ship-checklist', 'retry-pattern']);
+		expect(skillUpdatesStore.unseen).toEqual(['retry-pattern']);
+		skillUpdatesStore.markSeen();
+		expect(skillUpdatesStore.hasUnseen).toBe(false);
 	});
 });
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/apigen/types.gen.go b/cometmind/internal/apigen/types.gen.go
index 588847a2..ae5f1fbb 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/apigen/types.gen.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/apigen/types.gen.go
@@ -2073,9 +2073,12 @@ type Skill struct {
 	CanEdit     bool   `json:"can_edit"`
 	CanExport   bool   `json:"can_export"`
 	Description string `json:"description"`
-	Internal    bool   `json:"internal"`
-	IsSymlink   bool   `json:"is_symlink"`
-	Name        string `json:"name"`
+
+	// ExpiresAt Unix milliseconds when an unpinned self-improvement skill is archived or an archived one is deleted. Omitted when pinned or not self-improvement.
+	ExpiresAt *int64 `json:"expires_at,omitempty"`
+	Internal  bool   `json:"internal"`
+	IsSymlink bool   `json:"is_symlink"`
+	Name      string `json:"name"`
 
 	// Origin metadata.cometline.origin. Empty means the skill was not created by the self-improvement loop.
 	Origin *string `json:"origin,omitempty"`
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/server/skill_curator_handlers.go b/cometmind/internal/server/skill_curator_handlers.go
index a53e224b..0c44d789 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/server/skill_curator_handlers.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/server/skill_curator_handlers.go
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ func (a *App) handleListArchivedSkills(c *gin.Context) {
 		}
 		resource := a.skillResourceFromModel(skill)
 		resource.Status = skillpkg.CuratorStatusArchived
+		if life := a.curator.Lifecycle(c.Request.Context(), name); !life.ExpiresAt.IsZero() {
+			resource.ExpiresAt = life.ExpiresAt.UnixMilli()
+		}
 		items = append(items, resource)
 	}
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"skills": items})
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/server/skill_handlers.go b/cometmind/internal/server/skill_handlers.go
index 48ee573e..e727c9d3 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/server/skill_handlers.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/server/skill_handlers.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ type skillResource struct {
 	Origin      string   `json:"origin,omitempty"`
 	Status      string   `json:"status,omitempty"`
 	Pinned      bool     `json:"pinned,omitempty"`
+	ExpiresAt   int64    `json:"expires_at,omitempty"`
 	Tags        []string `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
@@ -199,7 +200,12 @@ func (a *App) skillResourceFromModel(skill skillpkg.Skill) skillResource {
 		Tags:        skill.Tags,
 	}
 	if a != nil && a.curator != nil && skillpkg.IsSelfImprovement(skill) {
-		resource.Status, resource.Pinned = a.curator.Lookup(context.Background(), skill.Name)
+		life := a.curator.Lifecycle(context.Background(), skill.Name)
+		resource.Status = life.Status
+		resource.Pinned = life.Pinned
+		if !life.ExpiresAt.IsZero() {
+			resource.ExpiresAt = life.ExpiresAt.UnixMilli()
+		}
 	}
 	return resource
 }
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/skillcurator/service.go b/cometmind/internal/skillcurator/service.go
index fb26fd78..7c0dbec4 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/skillcurator/service.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/skillcurator/service.go
@@ -250,13 +250,38 @@ func (s *Service) MarkArchived(ctx context.Context, name string) error {
 	return s.save(ctx, row)
 }
 
+// Lifecycle is the curator clock the skills page can show.
+type Lifecycle struct {
+	Status    string
+	Pinned    bool
+	ExpiresAt time.Time
+}
+
 // Lookup returns status and pinned for a skill name.
 func (s *Service) Lookup(ctx context.Context, name string) (status string, pinned bool) {
+	life := s.Lifecycle(ctx, name)
+	return life.Status, life.Pinned
+}
+
+// Lifecycle returns status, pin, and the next archive or delete time.
+func (s *Service) Lifecycle(ctx context.Context, name string) Lifecycle {
 	row, err := s.q.GetSkillCuratorState(ctx, name)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", false
+		return Lifecycle{}
+	}
+	skill := skills.CuratorSkill{
+		Name:       row.SkillName,
+		Status:     row.Status,
+		Pinned:     row.Pinned != 0,
+		CreatedAt:  unixMilli(row.CreatedAt),
+		LastUsedAt: unixMilli(row.LastUsedAt),
+		ArchivedAt: unixMilli(row.ArchivedAt),
+	}
+	return Lifecycle{
+		Status:    row.Status,
+		Pinned:    skill.Pinned,
+		ExpiresAt: skills.ExpiresAt(s.now(), skill),
 	}
-	return row.Status, row.Pinned != 0
 }
 
 // ArchivedNames lists archived curator rows.
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/skills/curator.go b/cometmind/internal/skills/curator.go
index eb0804c1..c3baacdc 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/skills/curator.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/skills/curator.go
@@ -60,6 +60,32 @@ func PlanCuratorTransitions(now time.Time, skills []CuratorSkill) []CuratorActio
 	return actions
 }
 
+// ExpiresAt is when an unpinned skill is archived, or an archived skill is deleted.
+// Pinned skills and rows with no clock do not expire.
+func ExpiresAt(now time.Time, skill CuratorSkill) time.Time {
+	if skill.Pinned {
+		return time.Time{}
+	}
+	status := skill.Status
+	if status == "" {
+		status = CuratorStatusActive
+	}
+	if status == CuratorStatusArchived {
+		if skill.ArchivedAt.IsZero() {
+			return time.Time{}
+		}
+		return skill.ArchivedAt.Add(CuratorDeleteAfter)
+	}
+	base := skill.LastUsedAt
+	if base.IsZero() {
+		base = skill.CreatedAt
+	}
+	if base.IsZero() {
+		return time.Time{}
+	}
+	return base.Add(CuratorArchiveAfter)
+}
+
 func unusedFor(now time.Time, skill CuratorSkill) time.Duration {
 	base := skill.LastUsedAt
 	if base.IsZero() {
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/skills/curator_test.go b/cometmind/internal/skills/curator_test.go
index 91689b55..72ed7d6f 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/skills/curator_test.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/skills/curator_test.go
@@ -41,6 +41,30 @@ func TestPlanCuratorTransitions(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestExpiresAt(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	created := now.Add(-10 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	used := now.Add(-2 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	archived := now.Add(-3 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		in   CuratorSkill
+		want time.Time
+	}{
+		{name: "archive clock", in: CuratorSkill{Status: CuratorStatusActive, CreatedAt: created}, want: created.Add(CuratorArchiveAfter)},
+		{name: "use resets archive clock", in: CuratorSkill{Status: CuratorStatusStale, CreatedAt: created, LastUsedAt: used}, want: used.Add(CuratorArchiveAfter)},
+		{name: "pinned does not expire", in: CuratorSkill{Status: CuratorStatusActive, Pinned: true, CreatedAt: created}},
+		{name: "archived deletes later", in: CuratorSkill{Status: CuratorStatusArchived, CreatedAt: created, ArchivedAt: archived}, want: archived.Add(CuratorDeleteAfter)},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if got := ExpiresAt(now, tt.in); !got.Equal(tt.want) {
+				t.Fatalf("expires = %s, want %s", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCuratorPassDue(t *testing.T) {
 	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	run, first, note := CuratorPassDue(now, time.Time{}, time.Time{}, false, true)
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/tools/registry_add.go b/cometmind/internal/tools/registry_add.go
index 9c6ac96d..93a18e31 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/tools/registry_add.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/tools/registry_add.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (r *Registry) addSkillTools(surface ToolSurface, opt RegistryOptions) {
 		r.Add(ReadSkillDraft{})
 	}
 	if surface.SkillMut {
-		r.Add(WriteSkill{})
+		r.Add(WriteSkill{Events: opt.MemoryEvents})
 		r.Add(PromoteSkillDraft{})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill.go b/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill.go
index b962b97d..7da33cd3 100644
--- a/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill.go
+++ b/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill.go
@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@ package skills
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/Cometline/cometline/cometmind/internal/event"
 	"github.com/Cometline/cometline/cometmind/internal/skills"
 	"github.com/Cometline/cometline/cometmind/internal/tools/toolkit"
 )
 
 // WriteSkill creates or updates an Agent Skill under ~/.cometmind/skills.
-type WriteSkill struct{}
+type WriteSkill struct {
+	Events *event.Hub
+}
 
 func (WriteSkill) Spec() ToolSpec {
 	return ToolSpec{
@@ -27,7 +31,7 @@ func (WriteSkill) Spec() ToolSpec {
 	}
 }
 
-func (WriteSkill) Execute(_ context.Context, input json.RawMessage) (Result, error) {
+func (t WriteSkill) Execute(ctx context.Context, input json.RawMessage) (Result, error) {
 	var in struct {
 		Name      *string `json:"name"`
 		Content   *string `json:"content"`
@@ -47,5 +51,16 @@ func (WriteSkill) Execute(_ context.Context, input json.RawMessage) (Result, err
 	if err := skills.WriteSkill(name, content, in.Overwrite); err != nil {
 		return Result{OK: false, Output: err.Error()}, nil
 	}
+	if t.Events != nil {
+		action := "created"
+		if in.Overwrite {
+			action = "updated"
+		}
+		t.Events.Publish(event.SkillReviewUpdated(toolkit.ToolSessionFrom(ctx), []event.SkillReviewChange{{
+			Name:        name,
+			Action:      action,
+			Description: strings.TrimSpace(skills.SkillMarkdownDescription(content)),
+		}}))
+	}
 	return Result{OK: true, Output: "skill " + name + " written to ~/.cometmind/skills/" + name + "/SKILL.md"}, nil
 }
diff --git a/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill_test.go b/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b59a5516
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cometmind/internal/tools/skills/write_skill_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+package skills
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/Cometline/cometline/cometmind/internal/event"
+)
+
+func TestWriteSkillPublishesUpdate(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("HOME", t.TempDir())
+	hub := event.NewHub()
+	sub := hub.Subscribe()
+	defer sub.Close()
+
+	content := "---\nname: ship-checklist\ndescription: Ship a reviewed change\n---\n\n# Steps\n"
+	payload, err := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"name": "ship-checklist", "content": content})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	ctx := WithToolSession(t.Context(), "sess-1")
+	res, err := (WriteSkill{Events: hub}).Execute(ctx, payload)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !res.OK {
+		t.Fatalf("write failed: %s", res.Output)
+	}
+
+	select {
+	case ev := <-sub.Events:
+		if ev.Kind != event.KindSkillReviewUpdated || ev.SessionID != "sess-1" || len(ev.SkillReviews) != 1 {
+			t.Fatalf("event = %+v", ev)
+		}
+		got := ev.SkillReviews[0]
+		if got.Name != "ship-checklist" || got.Action != "created" || got.Description != "Ship a reviewed change" {
+			t.Fatalf("change = %+v", got)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("missing skill update event")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cometmind/openapi.yaml b/cometmind/openapi.yaml
index ca0c0190..c0760fe9 100644
--- a/cometmind/openapi.yaml
+++ b/cometmind/openapi.yaml
@@ -3639,6 +3639,10 @@ components:
           enum: [active, stale, archived]
         pinned:
           type: boolean
+        expires_at:
+          type: integer
+          format: int64
+          description: Unix milliseconds when an unpinned self-improvement skill is archived or an archived one is deleted. Omitted when pinned or not self-improvement.
         tags:
           type: array
           description: Optional tags from the skill frontmatter, used by the skills page filter.