1. How old is the product you already have?
Take a look at the sunscreen container you already have. Be it a tube or a spray, it should have an expiration date, but those aren’t always reliable. What you should do is try to squeeze some of the product out of the container. If the solution is watery or runny, chuck it and start with a fresh product.
2. What’s the problem with an expired product?
Sunscreen can expire for different reasons (it’s been too long, or it wasn’t properly stored). But no matter the reason, once it expires, it no longer screens the sun like its name suggests it should. This means you leave yourself exposed to sunburns or other damages caused by the sun. Luckily, there are ways to make your sunblock last longer.
3. Proper storage
Remembering to apply sunscreen is important, but it’s also important to mind your sunscreen when you’re not wearing it. You want to store your sunscreen away from direct sunlight, preferably in a dark closet. When you store it somewhere dark, you’re keeping the bottle away from UV rays, which are harmful to the formula in the long run. If you’re taking your sunscreen with you to the pool or the beach, make sure to keep it in your bag or wrapped in a towel so it doesn’t meet direct sunlight.
4. What about extreme heat?
Direct sunlight is harmful to the sunscreen formula, but so is extreme heat. If the summer temperatures are too high where you live (77 degrees or higher) your fridge is great for storing your sunscreen, because the heat can make the formula go bad. If you take your sunscreen with you to the beach on a scorching hot day, keeping it in your bag may not do the trick for it and you’ll have to store it in a cooler with your drinks.
5. Keep away from humidity
Your bathroom may not be the best place to store your sunscreen because the area tends to be humid with every steamy shower you take. The steam can also cause separation in your sunscreen’s formula, which can even develop mold. (Ew.) So make sure you store your sunscreen in a moisture-free zone.