Sunscreen, like the food in your fridge, can expire! It’s easy to forget, but checking the date on your bottle is super important to make sure it still works. Most sunscreens last about three years, but after that, they don’t protect you from harmful UV rays as well. Using expired sunscreen could leave your skin vulnerable to sunburn, premature aging, and even more serious conditions like skin cancer.
How to Check for Expiration
To find out if your sunscreen is still good to use, check the bottom or back of the bottle for either an expiration date or a lot number. If there’s an expiration date, it’s straightforward—simply don’t use the product past that date. However, if you only see a lot number, note that the first two digits typically represent the year the product was manufactured. For instance, a lot number beginning with “21” means the sunscreen was made in 2021, giving you until 2024 to use it.
Tips for Staying Sun-Safe
- Mark the Purchase Date: To simplify tracking, use a permanent marker to write the date of purchase on your sunscreen bottle. This ensures you don’t lose track of how long you’ve had it.
- Refresh Your Supply: If you’ve had the bottle for over two years, it’s a good idea to replace it, even if it hasn’t quite reached its expiration date. By doing so, you’ll always have a fresh, reliable product on hand.
- Choose Broad-Spectrum Protection: When replacing your sunscreen, look for a broad-spectrum formula with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays.
Why Expiration Matters
Expired sunscreen not only loses effectiveness but may also change in texture, color, or smell, which could irritate your skin. Exposure to heat, such as leaving sunscreen in a hot car, can further accelerate this degradation, reducing its protective properties even before the expiration date.
The Best Approach to Sun Protection
Sunscreen is super important, but wearing UPF 50+ clothing gives you even better protection from the sun! Coolibar sun protective clothing provides reliable, long-lasting coverage that won’t fade or degrade over time, ensuring you stay safe even when your sunscreen may not be effective.
Remember, proper sun safety includes using fresh sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and reapplying sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Stay sun-smart, and your skin will thank you!