Creams, protections, and sunscreens: when should they be replaced?

Summer as well as the first rays of sunshine are making their appearance, and you immediately think about protecting your skin. It’s an excellent reflex to adopt, but there is always the recurring dilemma : “My tube of sunscreen from last summer is far from empty, I’ll reuse it this year…”.

Here’s an idea to forget very quickly and the tips to follow if you want to maintain optimal solar protection!

Whether in oil, cream, spray, or protective mist form, sunscreens and sun protection products (like all cosmetic products) have an optimal use-by date (P.A.O.).

Indeed, a logo must be visible on the bottle or tube of the sunscreen. This (usually represented as an open jar) indicates the product’s shelf life: the mention 12M, for example, for 12 months, from the first opening, provided storage conditions have been respected.

Furthermore, a sunscreen product that has not yet been opened can be stored for a maximum of 3 years. Do not hesitate to note the purchase date as well as the date of first opening on your bottle. It’s an excellent way to best preserve your product!

It is important to know that temperature changes and external elements impact the quality and protective properties of the product: sand on the tube opening, exposure to very high temperatures, the product falling into water—these are all factors not to neglect. Also, be aware that a sunscreen should not be reused from year to year due to the fragility of the filters that make up your product. Moreover, if you notice that its appearance is oily or has a different texture than when opened (lumpy, more fluid, too pasty…), do not hesitate for a second and discard it to get a new one.

By following these tips, you can enjoy summer safely!

Also read:

Prepare your skin as best as possible before sun exposure

Tanning accelerator

Fair skin, which sunscreen to choose?