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How Do You Know if Sunscreen Has Expired?

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I read that spf 🧴 lasts for 3 years? I got some a while back and it has a strong scent but feels like a waste to throw it away!

I have used a lot of it but when I poured it out into a face cream pot it’s a lot lol

Using on my face causes pilling and now may not have the protective properties it once had so I’ve just put it on my arms 😅

kitty88uk
a week ago
What do you think of this?+20 points
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Leannexxx

In the uk it says don't use after the date if it's been opened I wouldn't use it myself

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kitty88uk

Leannexxx there’s no date and it’s a Japanese brand. I asked my mum to buy from Hong Kong to try it out lol

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Leannexxx

kitty88uk omg lol I'd just throw it away as it doesn't protect your skin either way

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kitty88uk

Leannexxx yes haha 😆 but it has hyaluronic acid in it seems a waste to not use it

Oh well I used half of the tube already so it’s time to throw it away

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kitty88uk

Leannexxx can you recommend a good spf 🧴?

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Leannexxx

kitty88uk honestly I can't I don't use any of them only some on my kids

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kitty88uk

Leannexxx lol 😆 oh is that so! Why don’t you use spf? It’s important to do so

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Leannexxx

kitty88uk just never have it's not like I really need it much in this country lol

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IonaJones

kitty88uk I use Piz Buin Moisturising spf 30 on my body and I’m fair but I never burn with this suncream. Used it last year in Malta, I apply a good amount before I leave the hotel/house and reapply through the day and not burnt. It’s nice and light too I feel it’s not sticky like some.

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kitty88uk

Leannexxx yes that’s true haha 😆 but you can still get uv rays even when it’s cloudy skies, read about it many years ago

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SebK84

No date on any cosmetics in UK, the only indications is a small tin symbol with number. Usually it's 12 which means it should be used within 12 months after opening.

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kitty88uk

SebK84 yes I know the symbol and what it is about already, it didn’t have it as it’s a brand made in Japan

It smelled strongly of alcohol and no more of the nice floral fragrance so I binned it

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EmmaWright762

Within a year of purchase/opening which unless you make a note in your diary of when you bought it is pretty useless as many don't have a date on them these days. Having said that I would recommend you get rid of any bottle that's been used as one of the jobs you do in the winter months.

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kitty88uk

EmmaWright762 yes that’s about right or if you notice there’s a can in the texture and the smell is different more stronger than when you first opened to use them definitely needs to be thrown out!

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martinlufc5637

It's cheap enough, always some good deals around,cwe just replace every year when we go on holiday

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kitty88uk

martinlufc5637 Yes 👍🏻 that’s true! Oh that’s great you go on holiday every year! Where do you go? I cannot stand with hot 🥵 weather lol 😝

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martinlufc5637

kitty88uk we are going to marmaris Turkey in 3'weeks, it was cheaper than a week in the UK

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kitty88uk

martinlufc5637 that’s great to hear! Hope you and your family will have an amazing 🤩 time over there!!

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martinlufc5637

kitty88uk we have friends over there at the minute, prices have gone up by 100% or more 😱

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kitty88uk

martinlufc5637 omg 😱 really?! How much are plane ✈️ tickets roughly? Guess cause it’s near peak season?! Crazy how they can just up the prices like that!! 😠

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KAW18

A lot of products have a symbol on them. It looks like a open tub it tells you how many months after opening you should use it by.

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kitty88uk

KAW18 yes I know lol I asked cause it doesn’t have one and it’s a Japanese brand

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hspexy

You can usually tell by the consistency, but it’s best not to chance it

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kitty88uk

hspexy the spf was liquid type but the smell got stronger and didn’t have the floral scent it’s supposed to have but yes I threw it away

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MrsCraig

This has reminded me to get more sunscreen for my son. I usually just buy a new bottle each year as don't think it lasts that long and don't want to risk it.

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig haha 😆 good that I made this chat topic as it became a reminder for you! I saw some kids ones at Aldi very good price and at 50+ was thinking don’t see a problem using those ones haha

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk I always get either the Lidl or Aldi kids one for him. Never had a problem with either.

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig yeah I read that Aldi does good sun creams! Do you remember how much they are? Do you use them yourself too?

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk it is usually about £3 per bottle, although might be a bit more this year. Yes I use it myself, never had any issues when using it.

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig £3 sounds a reasonable price! What’s the size of bottles? Last I had a look at Sainsbury’s can’t remember the brand name but it’s small size at 50ml I think 🤔

Yeah as long as it says 50+ don’t see a problem using spf 🧴 even though it says for kids it’s basically just suncream! Have you noticed bottles that don’t say lids costs more?! Lol 😝 what a rip off

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk if i remember correctly it is a 200ml bottle. I always use the kids sunscreen, it tends to be cheaper. And a higher protection too.

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig that’s a food size thanks 🙏🏻 for taking your time to reply back to my questions! Yea kids spf 🧴 are cheaper! When it’s the same product lol 😝

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk no problem 😁

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig thank you 🙏🏻 for all of your help!! Very informative! May get some kids spf if I remember next time I go to Aldi but I just bought some for face at Superdrug rrp costs £14.99 now down to £9.99 still pricey lol I have used the brand before made in Japan got my mum to buy in Hong Kong a few years ago to try it out as it’s a popular item!! It’s light weight and not thick or greasy but this one says made in Canada

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk I got some kids sun cream in Tesco yesterday. Just bought their own make, so much cheaper than the branded. I could have gotten 3 tesco bottles for the price of one branded one.

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kitty88uk

MrsCraig oh that’s good to hear! Yes supermarkets own brands of anything is much cheaper and still just as good as the branded ones! Which brand ones did you buy before and what does the Tesco one looks like? Can you share a photo? Yeah best to compare prices! Thanks for letting me know!! 👌🏻

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MrsCraig

kitty88uk I've never bought branded sun cream, always the supermarket own. Our son goes through loads of it, couldn't afford to buy branded! The Tesco one is 200ml and cost £3.20. I checked in Lidl yesterday and their kids one was £3.29. But it was a spray one, the Tesco is a tube.

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tracisinclair01

Never use suncream after a year been opened it loses it protection. So you may think you putting on factor 50 more like factor 30 protection etc. Recommend to replace every year

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kitty88uk

tracisinclair01 yes I thought so too googled search says 3 years they can last for but still not sure 🤔

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tracisinclair01

kitty88uk 1 year when opened is generally best rule. Not sure about unopened though.

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kitty88uk

tracisinclair01 yes I was thinking the same too Best for 1 year to use and if the texture and smell is different then best to get rid of it!

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eyeballkerry

I would be very wary and probably throw it away. I know it seems a waste but if there are no symbols it’s better to be safe than sorry.

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kitty88uk

eyeballkerry yes I know as with all skincare has that symbol

This one didn’t have it, made in Japan and I even used Google translate app it didn’t say the date

Would be obvious if it had a number but nothing in the tube

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DeBunny

kitty88uk Can you upload a photo of the front and back?

Is there not even a batch number or anything?

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kitty88uk

DeBunny got rid of the tube ages ago squeezed out the rest into a pot

Got rid of it cause the smell got too strong

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HEDGEHOGS

Just had a look online and it says this.....HOW LONG DOES SUNSCREEN LAST ONCE OPENED? Sunscreen can remain effective for up to 3 years once it's been opened. Generally, sunscreen can last 6 to 12 months after opening and varies per product. Be sure to check the product packaging and follow directions for the best results.

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kitty88uk

HEDGEHOGS yes I know I looked it up already lol but thank you for leaving. Comment with information will be useful for other people to know!

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xKJG93

They should normally have like the little tub symbol on the back and it'll say something like 12M or something like that

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kitty88uk

xKJG93 yes I know that just this one or from Japan had nothing on it no tub symbol or numbers on it

Already used half the tube, poured out what was left onto a pot to see how much had left lol

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jms19

Mine always have an expiration date on them but if i think it’s not good enough i just chuck it. Skin cancer is no joke so it’s not worth the risk for the price of sun tan cream

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