Can expired sunscreen still provide sun protection? What is the shelf life of sunscreen?

When we use sunscreen, it is inevitable that the sunscreen will expire before it is fully used up. Will expired sunscreen still work? Can I still use sunscreen after it expires? Let’s take it together today.

Can expired sunscreen still protect against the sun?

Sunscreen that has just expired or has expired not long ago (about one or two weeks) still has a sun protection effect. At this time, we can use it on some rough skin areas, such as arms, legs or feet. At the same time, it should be noted that although the sunscreen at this time still has sun protection function, it must not be used on the face.

What is the shelf life of sunscreen?

The shelf life of unopened sunscreen is generally three years, but it is best to use up the opened sunscreen within the same year. This is because the opened sunscreen will come into contact with the air, which contains many bacteria and microorganisms that are invisible to the naked eye, which will accelerate the loss of sunscreen ingredients in the sunscreen. Therefore, it is best to use up the opened sunscreen within the same year.

What is the correct way to use sunscreen?

When applying sunscreen, you should apply it to your forehead first, spreading it evenly from the center to the sides without making circular motions. Then apply gently to the face from top to bottom, making sure not to neglect your neck. After applying sunscreen, it takes a certain amount of time to take effect, so wait 20 minutes after applying sunscreen before going out.

Sunscreen application order

Generally, it is applied after basic skin care and before foundation. At this time, sunscreen can form a thin film to lock the skin care products firmly on the skin. At the same time, it can also isolate the skin from cosmetics, and together with cosmetics, it can block the invasion of ultraviolet rays, which means that the barrier is thicker.