Finally summer temperatures and lots of sun. Off into the open air! If you don't want to risk sunburn, protect yourself. But does the expired sunscreen from last year work, or should you throw it away?
Were you still fully motivated to soak up the sun last year in the fall? I know that. But as someone who gets sunburned quickly, I don't dare go outdoors without suntan lotion.
When looking at the cream in the bathroom from last year, it quickly becomes clear: again an expired sunscreen. On my shelf are now 3 pieces.
They have not been bad for long, but the best-before date has passed.
We know from many foods that they are still edible. But what about cosmetics? Can an old sunscreen still protect? I've taken a close look at this for you.
Table of contents
Can you still use expired sunscreen?
The manufacturer guarantees that the sunscreen is effective until the best-before date. UV protection does not stop immediately when this date is reached. You can use sunscreen that has been expired for a short time. However, over time, the cream may become less effective, according to dermatologists.
This is due to the oxygen that reaches the cream in the process. It can change the ingredients.
The fact is that when sunscreen expires, it loses its UV protection. And that is exactly what we expect from a sunscreen. Without UVA and UVB protection, we are at the mercy of the sun.
Even intensive application of sunscreen won't help. Without UV protection, sunscreen is simply like a conventional moisturizer.
So if you use an expired sunscreen, you risk sunburn. It misses its intended purpose.
What can also happen with sunscreen from the previous year is that your skin reacts sensitively to it. The chemical composition of the cream changes. If you have sensitive skin, you risk skin irritations and rashes.
When you want to get a healthy and quick tanthen treat yourself to a new tube of suntan lotion.
Try to avoid any sunburn. It causes considerable damage. Thus, it can happen that the DNA in the skin cells changes, which can lead to skin cancer.
Is old sunscreen harmful?
Yes, old sunscreen is suspected of causing cancer. In March 2021, a scientific study was published by scientists from the national research organization CNRS. They artificially aged sunscreens for testing purposes. What they found was anything but pleasant.
So, according to this study, expired sunscreen is said to be carcinogenic. Old creams in this experiment formed a substance that can be dangerous for us.
The chemical filter octocrylene became benzophenone in the aging process. "If benzophenone gets on the skin, it can cause rashes, inflammation or hypersensitivity, but also liver cancer or lymphoma. This has been the case in animal studies. The molecule affects the thyroid gland and reproductive organs," one of the scientists, Didier Stien, stated in an interview with the tagesschau an.
You can neither see nor smell the transformation of the chemical substances. Therefore, you should not use old cream and follow the best before date.
Prefer natural sun milk
Octocrylene is a chemical UV filter. It is not contained in certified natural cosmetics. Mineral filters are used in natural sun milk. They are better for the skin overall.
In the drugstore, such products are still difficult to get. If you still have no idea, then I can give you the Suntribe sunscreen* recommend. It is absorbed quickly, is non-greasy and, most importantly, does not contain any chemicals, preservatives or perfume.
This benefits everyone who has sensitive skin and who has no desire for chemicals on and in the body. With the Suntribe discount code* "wegowild" you can save 10% on the order.
Using old suntan lotion: what do I have to watch out for?
Few cosmetics have an expiration date. Some manufacturers now print a date on the bottle so that you can tell whether the sunscreen has expired. There is no uniform regulation. The reason is that you start the countdown for the shelf life.
As soon as you open the bottle or jar, the time runs. If the cream has only been open for a few months, you don't have to worry. So for the first warm rays of spring, you can safely use the milk from the fall.
Orientation for the shelf life is provided by two imprints on the sun milk bottle:
- MHD - the best-before date. It indicates the minimum shelf life of the sunscreen unopened. On average, this is 30 months. You can usually find the best before date on the bottom of the bottle.
- The Crucible symbol. Once the cream is opened, you must orient yourself by the jar symbol. It is usually found on the back of the bottle.
If you want to know if you have an expired sunscreen in your hands or not, then you need to take precautions.
TipWrite the opening date on the tube with a permanent marker.
The sunscreen has a shelf life of 12 months after opening. You can recognize this by a small symbol on the tube. It is a Cream jar* shown, next to it is 12 M.
If you opened the cream but forgot the date, try to remember when you opened the tube.
Look very carefully: If the smell, color and consistency have changed, you should no longer use the sunscreen.
There is a difference between the types of creams and their durability:
Sunscreen with Octocrylene: There is nothing wrong with using fresh bottles. But remember that they should be stored in a cool and dry place. To protect yourself from the danger of benzophenone, it is better to dispose of these tubes and not store them for another season.
Sunscreen without octocrylene: There is nothing wrong with a sunscreen from last year that has been stored in a cool place but is now expired. However, be more generous than normal. After all, we can't watch the UV protection disappear with the naked eye. But our skin will thank us later.
If in doubt, do not use it as a sunscreen. However, you can still use natural cosmetic cream as a moisturizer for the legs and arms.
Help! My legs just do not get a tan!
How can you recognize expired sunscreen?
A look at the best before date and the jar symbol are already a good indication. With old suntan lotion, however, the consistency, color and odor also change.
- Smell: Does the cream smell strange and different than usual? Maybe even rancid? Then throw it away.
- Consistency and color: Squeeze a little cream from the tube. Does only liquid come out or is the milk not typically creamy? Does it have a yellowish color? Then put it in the trash.
What factors affect the shelf life
You bought a sunscreen at the beginning of the year and want to take it with you on vacation in the fall? But can it withstand it at all? Normally, yes.
Depending on the manufacturer, sunscreen usually has a shelf life of one year. However, there are of course factors that ensure that the sunscreen expires quickly than you can use it up.
Very crucial is the storage. Never put sunscreen in the sun, even during a sunbath. It belongs in your bag and the bag in the shade.
When the season is over, store the sunscreen in a cool, dark place. Usually it is enough in the bathroom cabinet. If you have an expensive cream that should not run, you can also put it in the refrigerator.
By the way, if you are a fair skin type, you shouldn't spend a lot of time in the blazing sun anyway. You can tan even in the shade - not so fast, but healthy!
How to store sunscreen correctly
So that the shelf life turns out high, here again quickly the tips for the perfect storage.
- At the lake or beach: avoid direct sunlight. A cool bag is perfect. Alternatively, a bathing bag that is in the shade will do.
- In autumn and winter: If you still have a lot of sunscreen left over towards the end of summer, store it in a cool, dark place. Cellar or refrigerator are suitable for this. Temperature fluctuations should be prevented.
- On the road: try to avoid fluctuating temperatures. A sunscreen that is exposed to heat in the car for hours loses its UV protection.
Why you shouldn't skimp on sunscreen
No matter which sunscreen you choose, it's important to reapply regularly. You should not skimp on sunscreen. The products only have the sun protection factor when they are applied thickly. A very thin layer is not as effective.
Dermatologists recommend applying a new layer every two hours.
If you want to avoid sunburn, you should not only apply suntan lotion, but simply avoid the midday sun. At this time you get particularly many UV rays.
Often, not even the strongest suntan lotion can help from sunburn.
Our conclusion
If you apply an expired sunscreen, you risk sunburn. Check the packaging for the expiration date of the sunscreen and write down the date of the first opening with a permanent marker.
Store the suntan lotion correctly and reapply regularly. Then nothing can go wrong and you can enjoy the sun to the fullest.
If in doubt, dispose of old sunscreen before you risk anything. All the best to you and a sunburn-free summertime!
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