The great thing about sheer mineral sunscreen is that it dispels the myth that you can’t enjoy the protective benefits of zinc oxide sun protection without the white cast. Working immediately after application, it safeguards against UV rays in perhaps the gentlest way possible, thanks to the natural ingredients inside. However, in order to work properly, it needs to be in date.
Just like many other products on the market, mineral sunscreen has a shelf life, after which its ability to keep you safe from sunburn becomes degraded. In this article, we take a look at how best to take care of your sheer zinc oxide sunscreen to ensure it lasts until its use-by date. You see, if you don’t look after it properly – it might not.
Understanding the Shelf Life of Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
When you see the expiry date on the side of the packaging, it will typically be around two to three years after the sheer mineral sunscreen was manufactured. This expiry date takes into account the stability of the active ingredients, which may lose their effectiveness after this point.
So, what’s the best way to ensure your sheer sunscreen stays in the best possible condition? Well, it’s all about the way you store it. Here are a few storage tips for you to use…
- Keep it Nice & Cool – first and foremost, you should keep your sunscreen in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as UV light can be pretty unforgiving and lead to it breaking down.
- Don’t Leave it In the Car – while the interior of a car can be cool sometimes, it’s also a place where temperatures can soar in the Summer. That’s why your cool, dry place can’t be your car’s trunk, as it might not stay cool for long, and if it does get hot, it can cause the ingredients to separate and degrade.
- Keep the Lid or Cap On Securely – another big thing to avoid is leaving the cap of your sheer sunscreen off or not properly secured for any length of time. Oxidization happens every time you open it, and if air is continuously allowed to enter because the top is not quite on as it should be, it won’t be long until it becomes unusable.
Before you trust your sunscreen to give yourself the best possible protection, you should check that it has the right consistency, color and smell. Any major changes could point towards it no longer being effective, even if the expiry date says otherwise.
Doing What’s Necessary to Protect Your Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
If your sheer sunscreen is within date and properly stored, there’s no reason why it won’t give you the protection it’s supposed to when it’s applied in the right way. Where you keep your sunscreen really does matter, as it can very much lead to sunburn or, at the very least, sun-damaged skin if it’s allowed to degrade to harsh temperatures – as you can get in the car.
It can be very easy to forget and leave your sunblock in the car, particularly after a long, hot day, but if you do, it could render it useless the next time you come to rely upon it for UV protection. That’s something that should give you that extra mental nudge to take it inside and store it correctly.
