Sun Safety Tips — 5 Signs Your Sunscreen is Expired

Sunscreen is a crucial component of any skincare routine, protecting against harmful UV rays that can cause sunburn, premature aging, and increase the risk of skin cancer. However, like any other product, sunscreens have a shelf life. Using expired sunscreen can significantly diminish its effectiveness.

Over time, the active ingredients in sunscreen change, compromising their ability to protect the skin effectively. These changes can result in altered texture, unpleasant odors, or discoloration, all clear indicators that the product has exceeded its shelf life. The expiration date on sunscreen packaging serves as a reliable guide for its efficacy. Beyond this date, the stability of key components like zinc oxide diminishes, making the sunscreen less reliable in safeguarding against harmful UV rays.

Read on for five signs your sunscreen is expired, how to best store your sunscreen, and tips for your overall sun safety.

How Long Does Sunscreen Last?

We’re all guilty of storing a bottle or two of sunscreen for goodness knows how many years. While sunscreen does expire, if stored properly, the product should retain its original strengths for at least three years. This is because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires all sunscreens to adhere to this regulation.

As a general best practice, it is best to pitch sunscreen after that three-year timeframe or if it is exhibiting any of the five red flags mentioned above. This rule applies even if the bottle was never opened. Thankfully, many apply sunscreen daily and use up a bottle before it expires or exhibits any of these warning signs.

How to Best Store Your Sunscreen

For longevity, it is best to store your sunscreen in a cool dark place, like a medicine cabinet or vanity. Avoid storing products in a place that is exposed to extreme heat, such as a car or directly in front of a window.

Pro Tip: When taking sunscreen to sporting events, the pool, or out exploring, try to wrap your sunscreen in a towel and house in the shade.

5 Signs Your Sunscreen is Expired

It is important to regularly monitor sunscreen expiration and check for the following sun safety red flags. When sunscreen loses its effectiveness, it not only fails to shield the skin adequately but may also cause skin irritations or reactions.

Key things to look for include an unpleasant odor, discoloration, and changes in consistency and texture.

1. Changes in Texture and Consistency

Changes in texture and consistency are the first red flags that your sunscreen is expired. To ensure optimal sun protection, it's essential to adhere to expiration dates and check for changes in texture, consistency, and discoloration.

There are four texture and consistency warning signs that your sunscreen is past its prime. These include if your sunscreen is clumpy, watery, grainy, or oily.

• Clumpy — If your sunscreen is clumpy and has a cottage cheese texture, that’s a clear sign your sunscreen is past its prime. Sunscreen forming a clumpy texture often occurs after the product has been exposed to extreme temperatures, like sitting in a car baking in the summertime. This is one of the top reasons sunscreen should not be stored in your car.

• Watery — A watery texture is another clear sign your sunscreen no longer protects you as intended. This is because a watery consistency typically notes that the ingredients for that product have separated.

• Grainy — Grainy and clumpy consistencies often go hand in hand as textures that make people pause and wonder what is going on with their sunscreen. There are multiple causes for a grainy sunscreen texture, but regardless of the root cause, this is a clear sign your product should be tossed.

• Oily — Oily and watery textures both note that a product has separated and no longer protects your skin as intended. If you go to apply sunscreen and notice the container only supplied an oily-like consistency, not creamy, this is a red flag.

2. Unpleasant Odor or Discoloration

Just like changes in texture, a shift in the smell or color of your sunscreen can be a clear sign that it has exceeded its expiration date. Fresh sunscreen typically has a distinct and somewhat pleasant smell, but when it starts to go bad, the scent can become rancid or unpleasant. Additionally, the color of the sunscreen may darken or become cloudy, signaling that the ingredients are breaking down.

These changes indicate that the sunscreen is no longer stable, and using it could result in inadequate protection against UV rays. An unpleasant odor or discoloration is a straightforward way to tell that it's time to invest in a new bottle of sunscreen.

3. Expired Expiration Date

Checking for an expiration date on your sunscreen (and not using past that date) is one of the best ways to ensure your sunscreen provides optimal protection. Expiration dates are often printed in the bottle in a small-to-read font. You may need to search for it, but more often than not, your product includes a targeted expiration date.

4. Ineffectiveness and Sunburn Despite Application

Ineffectiveness and sunburn, despite application, are the biggest signs your sunscreen is expired. It is quite literally no longer protecting you. The challenge with this red flag; however, is that a sunburn isn’t always present to tip you off to your sunscreen's ineffectiveness. Even without a sunburn present, harmful UV rays can damage your skin. Sunburns are caused by UVB rays, whereas skin aging and skin cell damage are caused by UVA rays.

5. Skin Irritations or Allergic Reactions

While potentially less common, expired sunscreen can cause skin irritations or allergic reactions. A SELF article noted, “Other ingredients in skincare and makeup, like certain naturally derived oils, can go rancid over time and irritate the skin or break you out.”

If you notice any unusual reactions after applying sunscreen, it's essential to consider the possibility that the product may be expired. Skin sensitivity can vary from person to person, and while some individuals may experience immediate reactions, others may develop sensitivities over time.

Invest in the Best Sun Protection for You

Even though sunscreen has a shelf life, you can stay sun-safe and outshine skin cancer with these five tips and tricks in mind.

If you’re looking for alternative forms of sun protection, you can also always invest in sun-protective apparel. The best news is that sun-protective apparel doesn’t have a shelf life. It keeps you protected for years to come, without the need to constantly replenish your stock.