The hot summer months are coming in. With the sun out, people are starting to head to the beach!
You grab the bottle of sunscreen you find that has been in the back of your closet to protect your skin from those harmful sun rays. It should be fine. After all, sunscreen doesn’t expire.
Wrong! According to dermatologists, sunscreen definitely has an expiry date.
Skin health is something you should be mindful of. After all, you don’t want to risk your skin. Skin cancer can be caused by deadly UV radiation, so it’s always best to be careful.
How Long Does Sunscreen Last on the Skin After Applying?
Sunscreen lasts for around 2 hours after applying to the skin. This is because the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) rating won’t be the same after two hours.
Let’s say you applied an SPF 50 sunblock. After 2 hours it probably only provides around SPF 10 protection.
Other than SPF rating, you might want to find out what type of sunscreen you are using, mineral or chemical sunscreen.
- Mineral sunscreen simply acts like a mirror. It sits on top of your skin and reflects the UV rays.
- Chemical sunscreens are absorbed by the skin and dissipate the UV rays.
Typically, chemical sunscreens won’t wash off as easily as mineral ones. But most importantly, make sure the SPF is high enough to protect your skin from the sun.
Titanium dioxide is a common ingredient that you’ll surely notice when shopping for mineral and chemical sunscreens.
Does Sunscreen Expire or Go Bad?
Though most sunscreens won’t indicate a specific expiration date, by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, sunscreen should last for at least 3 years, but after that, it’s most likely expired.
It is also important to note that physical or mineral sunscreens last longer than chemical sunscreens.
One way to extend the life of your sunscreen past expiration date is to keep it in a cool and dark place. If you leave it somewhere hot, it is likely to expire sooner.
If all else fails, look at the expiration date on the sunscreen. If the sunscreen you buy doesn’t have one, take note of when you buy it with a marker on the bottle so that you know when it has hit that 3-year mark.
Signs That Sunscreen Has Expired
So you have a bottle of sunscreen and have no idea when it was bought. It also has no expiry date. How would you know whether it is still effective?
While not always a given, a rule of thumb is that if the sunscreen has a weird texture, color, or smell then it is definitely expired.
Is Expired Sunscreen Better Than No Sunscreen?
The simple answer to this is yes!
Expired means that the product wouldn’t have optimal SPF protection anymore.
While expired product may not be as protective as it was before it was expired, it still offers some protection from the sun. A little sun protection for your skin is better than no sun protection at all.
So if you only had expired sunscreen and can’t get hold of new sunscreen, it is generally safe to use.
Do I Really Need to Reapply Sunscreen Every Two Hours?
You want to apply sunscreen every 2 hours if you’re outdoors for a long period of time.
Unless your purpose is to get a tan or fry the glass skin you’ve worked so hard to achieve, you need to put sunscreen every 2 hours. And this is even if you’re already wearing a BB cream or CC cream that already has SPF.
SPF isn’t as effective after 2 hours on your skin. But if you’re just staying home, or in sheltered areas, it should be safe to skip reapplying the sunblock every 2 hours.
It’s also important to note that if you use a mineral or physical sunscreen, it would be more likely to sweat off than chemical sunscreens. Although mineral sunscreens are arguably more effective.
Just make sure that if you are getting in contact with the sun, you have an effective layer of sunblock on.
Is There a Sunscreen That Lasts All Day?
While there are sunscreen products that claim to last all day, it is still a good precaution to reapply them regularly.
Furthermore, the SPF ratings vary. Even if it lasts all day, there is no guarantee that the SPF rating remains the same.
The bottom line is, it’s still important to reapply your sunblock regularly, whether or not your sunscreen product claims to last all day.
We recommend you get a good Korean sunscreen formula since most Korean brands contain adequate amounts of SPF without leaving a white cast all day.
Other Ways to Protect From the Sun
There are other ways to protect yourself from the sun other than sunscreen.
You can wear UV-protective clothing. So this includes hats, long-sleeved tops, or a bathing suit cover up. You can also find clothes with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).
However, these don’t protect people entirely. You still need sunblock for protection, so it’s best to have both. Especially if you want to protect your skin from skin cancer.
How to Effectively Use Sunscreen
If you care about your skin at all, you would do your best to protect it from the sun. In order to do this, you have to use sunscreen properly.
You just have to make sure you put on enough sunscreen and apply it religiously. If you make it a daily habit, you’ll be sure to never forget your sunscreen. Don’t forget to apply it to your face as well!
When you do apply sunscreen, don’t skimp on it.
You don’t want to leave the chance for skin cancer. Make sure as well that you don’t miss a spot!
Important areas that should be covered should be the top of the head for men, and the chest for women, as these spots have the most sun exposure and will cause skin cancer.
If you want to have a sunscreen that effectively protects you from skin cancer causing UVA and UVB rays, you need to get a broad spectrum sunscreen that is at least SPF 30.
If you live in a tropical area, then SPF 50 would be best. One product we HIGHLY recommend you check out is COSRX’s Aloe Soothing Sun Cream.
What Does Broad Spectrum Mean?
Broad spectrum just means that it protects equally against UVA and UVB rays, according to FDA.
Other ways you can protect yourself would be to take antioxidants, like Vitamin C, to nourish your skin, and wear a hat. These can give additional sun protection.
In a Nutshell
In short, sunblock typically expires after 3 years, but it’s important to check the expiry date as well. You also need to apply sunblock every 2 hours.
If you care about your skin, then you should definitely invest in a good sunblock and apply it religiously to protect yourself from sun exposure. Note that Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is important.
You want to go for at least SPF 30 or SPF 50. It’s also a plus to use sunblocks with broad spectrum to make sure you’re protected against UVA and UVB rays.
Now go out in the summer heat and have some fun, while staying free from skin cancer!
CHANGELOG:
August 25, 2021 – Improved article formatting, reviewed and updated overall content
July 16, 2021 – Reviewed and updated article links
