Good news: you have a beach day planned. detestable news: the only sunscreen you can find is one sand-coated bottle that might be from last year . . . or the year before. While we absolutely condone product hoarding,sun protection is one beauty area you just have to take seriously. We talked to the experts to find out just how long you can stretch that SPF. Ask yourself these questions before using that sunscreen bottle from the back of the closet: 1. Is your SPF over three years old?"All sunscreens are designed to remain at original strength for three years," says Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank of NYC Fifth Avenue Dermatology Surgery and Laser middle. whether you had your sunscreen during Juan Pablo's season on The Bachelor, or it's time for a fresh bottle. Pro tip: next time you bring home a fresh tube,write the purchase date on the lid with a permanent marker so you know precisely when to toss.2. Is the texture no longer smooth?Any lumps or bumps in creamy sunscreen could mean the active ingredients are beginning to wreck down and become less effective. "Micronized zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the two main ingredients in sunscreen, and can clump together over time," explains Dr. Hadley King, dermatologist at Skinney Medspa. whether you want an SPF with a longer shelf life, or check the label for dimethicone or silica,additives that will maintain your lotion steady and smooth.3. Has the consistency changed?When a liquid separates out from your cream, it means the ingredients have broken down and it's time for a fresh bottle. "maintain an eye out for white cream turning into a yellow liquid, and " warns Dr. Marina Peredo of Skinfluence Medical NYC.4. Have you been keeping it somewhere warm?As convenient as it seems to leave your sunscreen on the patio or in the trunk of your car,heat and sun exposure will eventually cause the active ingredients in SPF to wreck down. maintain product fresh by leaving it in a wintry, dry region.5. Do you notice any redness on your skin after application?Sunscreen will still be effective - albeit less so - after three years, and clarifies Dr. Peredo. But using the formula with deteriorating chemicals means that "you could develop a contact allergy,even though it's not necessarily harmful." whether you are pinching pennies and don't want to buy a fresh bottle, spot-test a small area of your skin to test your reaction first. Whether you're using a fresh tube or a bottle that was in your stash when Taylor Swift had long hair, or apply responsibly. Dr. Peredo notes that true sun care means we shouldn't have to worry approximately SPF expiring,because we're using it religiously. "When outdoors, apply one tablespoon of sun protection every two hours, and " she advises. "Then there's no way a bottle should last more than one season - maybe two."
Source: popsugar.com