Does tanning lotion expire? Using expired products can have really disastrous consequences, so in this blog I’ll discuss whether tanning lotion has an expiry date.
First I’ll clear up what is meant by tanning lotion, as it can have different meanings around the world.
To some this means self tanner, to others it’s a bottle of sunscreen. In this post I’ll address both.
Expired sunscreen vs sunless tanner
Self-tanning products like St Tropez tan and a bottle of sunscreen are obviously very different.
Sunscreen products give you sun protection from harmful sun exposure, including UVB and UVA rays.
Too much exposure to direct sunlight without sun cream can cause sunburn, which increases your risk of skin cancer. If you use a leftover sunscreen that is expired, the consequences can be really dire!
Essentially, the cream may not protect you well or at all. You may find that you burn, which can cause painful skin, redness and blistering.
Whereas using an expired indoor tanning lotion does not have as severe consequences.
It really depends on the product itself, but you may still be able to achieve the desired results even if it has expired. Certainly you won’t have the risk of skin cancer or skin damage on your plate!
Worst case scenario it might be a bit lumpy, not apply well, not last long or be a funny colour.
If you have sensitive skin, there will be a risk of irritation and you may find it causes a reaction.
Which products have a shelf life?
Pretty much all cosmetics have a shelf life, including tan lotions and regular sunscreen.
Even though these products contain preservatives, it’s basically impossible to make something last… forever!
Especially if they are designed to protect the health of your skin, like SPF.
To find the expiry timeframe you can check the side of the bottle. You should find a little jar symbol with a number and the letter ‘m’.
For example, 6M indicates 6 months and 12M indicates a year.
Unfortunately it can’t tell you an exact date, only this broad timeframe. You have to remember roughly when you bought it.
If you have trouble remembering, you could label it with a permanent marker.
Does it matter if its an unopened lotion?
It’s common to wonder ‘does tanning lotion expire’ if the bottle is unopened.
The expiry timeframe does not change, however, if the product is still sealed closed. Even if it is unopened, it is still technically out of date and you should use it at your own risk.
This goes for all beauty products and skin types.
To decide whether to use unopened (but expired) skincare products, the best way is to consider the worst case scenario.
With sunless tanner the worst case scenario is that the tan doesn’t give you a natural-looking tan, or you may have an allergic reaction.
However, using expired sunscreen may decrease your level of protection, resulting in sun burn and an increased risk of skin cancer.
UV rays can be very harmful, so protection is absolutely necessary for all skin types.
Even if your sunscreen is unopened from last year, I would recommend replacing it.
How to extend the life and peak effectiveness of your product
Although you cannot literally extend the lifetime of a product, there are things you can do to make sure it reaches the 6-12 month period that it is in-date for.
Room temperature matters when it comes to many things – not just cosmetics, but even electronics!
Just like our skin, products do not like being exposed to extremes of temperature – meaning extreme heat OR extreme cold.
You therefore want to make sure your storage conditions do not encounter temperature fluctuations.
Sometimes a bathroom cupboard feels like the best place to store somewhere, but if that room gets very hot or humid, it may not be the best choice for skin care products.
For best results you’ll want to keep items in a dry place that is neither humid, super hot or cold.
Super hot conditions can impact the consistency of the product, and impede the efficacy of the active ingredients.
Side effects of using an expired product
I’ve always avoided using expired products for these reasons, but last year I accidentally brought along an expired product on holiday that I absolutely love.
It was a retinoid I had used for years so I thought I’d just wing it. Well, I massively regretted it because it broke me out in pimples the night before a wedding!
Having used this product for years, I knew this was not a normal reaction.
Even the consistency of the product felt different, but I went against my better judgement thinking I’d get away with it.
Aside from pimples, you might encounter:
- An allergic reaction, such as a rash or hives
- Poor application due to a blobby or watery formula
- No visible results – the tan may apply fine but simply not give a natural tan colour, or a weird colour!
Ultimately I can see why you might take a risk on a fake tan if you don’t have particularly sensitive skin.
However risking using expired sunscreen is just not worth it, and it definitely does expire.
