How Long Does Sunscreen Last?

Today you will learn

• What Are Sunscreens?
• How Long Does Sunscreen Last?
• How to Tell If Sunscreen Is Expired
• Can You Use Expired Sunscreen?
• 4 Tips for Making Sunscreen Last Longer

Protecting your skin from harmful sun affection is essential to any skincare routine. What product protects us from doing so? Of course, it’s sunscreen. This product helps to avoid rapid aging and appearing of wrinkles. That’s why it’s prevalent among many skincare fans.

But many people usually buy several sunscreens or get them as a present from their relatives or friends. And not every sunscreen is being used as soon as you get it. This is why knowing how long sunscreen lasts is important. 

In this article, we will answer several questions: what is sunscreen, how long does it last, and what is its expiration time when opened? We will also understand how to figure out if your sunscreen is expired and what to do to make it last longer.

I also encourage you to read our other skincare articles, such as 9 Ways To Get Rid of a Pimple Fast and 9 Best Toners For Combination Skin in 2023. These articles will give you more expertise about different skincare topics. 

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But now, let’s go on with what is sunscreen so that we will understand what we’re talking about at all.

What Are Sunscreens?

What does the sun do to us? It’s warm and pleasing, so why do we need to protect ourselves from it? Well, the sun has harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. They might cause sunburn, and skin damage which leads to a higher risk of skin cancer.

So, how do sunscreens work? They work by absorbing or reflecting UV rays, depending on the type of sunscreen, so let’s understand them better:

1. Chemical sunscreens: This type of sunscreen contains organic (carbon-based) compounds that absorb UV radiation, transforming it into heat that's then going to be released from the skin.
2. Physical sunscreens: These contain inorganic compounds like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They are just physically blocking and reflecting UV rays away from the skin.

How Long Does Sunscreen Last?

Many of them have different expiration dates, but this is important to understand that companies that produce them are obligated to make their sunscreens last up to 3 years. Some of the sunscreens might last a bit shorter, but 2-3 years is the average time they usually last. 

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Generally, there are two main factors to consider when determining how long sunscreen lasts: shelf life and duration of protection.

Shelf Life

Most sunscreens, especially from well-known companies such as La Roche-Posay have an expiration date printed on the packaging. So if the sunscreen remains unopened and stored in a cool, dry place, it’s not going to lose its effect until its expiration date

Duration of Protection

But when you apply sunscreen to your skin, how long will it last then? Can you take showers with them or swim in the sea? It’s better to reapply your sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating, but generally applying it once a day in the morning will protect you from sun rays for the rest of the day.

How to Tell If Sunscreen Is Expired

You might have trouble finding an expiration date on the packaging of the sunscreen, so let’s now find out the methods that will help us understand if the sunscreen is expired:

1. Separation: Separation is a great sign that the product is expired. You will probably notice this immediately and understand that something is wrong with the product. 
2. Color change: If you see any significant color change, this means you no longer can use the product, and we will speak more about the consequences of using an expired sunscreen a bit later in this post. But generally, you can throw out your sunscreen if a color change appears since it indicates the product’s degradation.
3. Texture: Clumpy or watery texture is another sign the sunscreen may be expired, if you didn’t add some other ingredient to it, such as water, etc. But if you did it, throw it out because it’s no longer gonna be effective. Changing the product’s compound isn’t good, I’m sure you know it!
4. Smell: A rancid or off smell can also indicate that the product is no longer effective.

Generally, any weird changes in the product are usually a sign that the sunscreen is expired, so I don’t recommend using it.

Can You Use Expired Sunscreen?

You will surely ask me about the effects of using an expired sunscreen. And honestly, you shouldn’t worry about it so much, as it’s not going to affect your skin badly. But expired sunscreen will either be less effective or the effect of it will be completely lost. Using this sunscreen will not just have any positive effects and make your skin vulnerable to sun rays.

If you see this problem, just replace the old bottle with the new one and use it for your own joy!

4 Tips for Making Sunscreen Last Longer

Let’s finally learn how to make the sunscreen last longer, so that we can enjoy our beautiful skin even longer:

1. Store it properly: I mentioned how to store the sunscreen properly a bit earlier, but this wouldn’t be an excess t repeat it: keep your sunscreen in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Many products are getting spoiled in other conditions, so taking care of your products will just make your life easier.
2. Keep it sealed: Air exposure is extremely bad for any skincare product, especially sunscreen. It’s always better to check out if the bottle is tightly closed so that your product doesn’t degrade. 
3. Use the right amount: Applying too little sunscreen can reduce its effectiveness. Try to apply about one ounce to cover your entire body. But in case you want to protect only your face and neck, there’s a good rule to use as well. It’s called the two-finger rule and it’s very simple: apply two lines of sunscreen on your index and middle fingers, connecting your fingertips and palm. Then just apply it on your face and neck. It’s a 100% working method to make sure you’re protecting yourself from the sun.

4. Apply sunscreen correctly: Always remember to cover all exposed areas of your skin, including ears, lips, and the tops of your feet. 
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I reapply sunscreen?

As I mentioned above, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. You can reapply after using a towel, but if don’t want to use a lot of sunscreen a day, just make sure you’re not washing it away from your skin.

Q: Can I use sunscreen on my face and body?

Absolutely yes! But I want to say, if you want to make your face shine,  I highly recommend using, sunscreens that are specifically formulated for facial use, because they may be lighter, non-comedogenic, and less likely to cause breakouts.

Q: Do I need to wear sunscreen even on cloudy days?

Yes, do it every day, because even though it looks like clouds don’t allow sun rays to go through them, it’s not true! About 80% of the rays are still penetrating clouds. By the way, the rays the sun has can also reflect from water and snow, so you will not be able to completely hide from them.

Q: How do I choose the right sunscreen for my skin type?

When choosing a sunscreen, look for one with broad-spectrum protection (covering both UVA and UVB rays) and an SPF of at least 30, because they’re most effective. For sensitive skin, look for a fragrance-free, mineral-based sunscreen. But if you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for non-comedogenic or oil-free formulas.

Conclusion

Finally, we’re at the end of the article. Today we answered the question “How long does sunscreen last?”, and we now know how to define expired sunscreens. I know you internalized this information very well, and will be more confident when you come across such problems.

If you liked this article, I encourage you to visit my website and check other articles related to skincare, self-improvement, healthy eating, and even more topics. Thanks for reading, and have a good day!

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