Does Sunscreen Expire?

The obvious way to check if your sunscreen is still okay to use is to look for an expiration date on the container. The FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to date their products, though. And even when there is a date, it’s not always easy to spot. On sunscreen tubes, check the crimped part at the top or the side or bottom of a bottle for an embossed date. Printed dates may be on the bottom or side of a can or bottle. “A sunscreen that expires in six months should work as well as one that has an expiration date of three years away,” says Susan Booth, who oversees CR’s sunscreen testing.

The exception: Sunscreen that’s been exposed to direct sunlight or excessive heat can deteriorate faster. So a container stored in your bathroom cabinet is fine. One in your beach bag in the trunk of your car probably isn’t.

Even if the bottle is half empty, sunscreen that’s within the three-year window will be safe to use as long as it’s been stored properly. “Opening a sunscreen doesn’t cause it to expire any faster,” Booth says. “We’ve retested sunscreen samples from previous years’ testing after storing them in our lab and found no differences in performance.”

If the sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date and you can’t remember when you bought it, it’s better not to take a chance. Using an expired sunscreen won’t adequately protect you from the sun, leaving your skin more vulnerable to sunburn and the kind of sun damage that can lead to skin cancer and premature skin aging. Buy yourself some new sunscreen. If the sunscreen is not marked with an expiration date, use a permanent marker to write the date you bought it on the container.

Regardless of the sunscreen’s expiration or purchase date, toss it if the contents have separated, changed color, look watery, or have a funny smell. These are all signs of spoilage.