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zinc oxide/titanium dioxide based sunscreen shelf life?
  • Reason
    I know the shelf life of most sunscreens is pretty short and the products lose effectiveness right out of the factory, but what about the zinc oxide  and titanium dioxide ones?  As long as the consistency is the same, is it safe to use year old or even two year old stuff?  I have super  light skin and get a burn from thinking about going to the beach and one of my daughters is even worse off than I am.  The titanium and zinc sunblocks are the only thing that work for any length of time.  The whitish color they leave on the skin is annoying , but at least lets you know if you miss a spot.  

    Got any favorite brands?  We sometimes have trouble finding it at the pharmacy so buy it in bulk online ( hence the original question)

    Looking to stave off skin cancer
    ~Cindy~
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    If it's a true sunscreen it should have an expiration date on it. But these products should, in general, be good for about 3 years. 
  • lindygirl1960
    The one I use from Blue Lizard has a date stamped on the bottom of the bottle. If there is no expiration date stamped on the bottle, sometimes you can find a lot number and the manufacturer can tell you the expiration date from that information. 
  • AleV
    I wonder if the product is good for 3 years from manufacturing date or from the time you open it. If its the first case, which is more logic, is harder to know when it was manufactured, even if you have the lot number theres companies that just dont respond or give you confusing answers (at least for my experience).

    I have a mineral sunscreen which expiration date is august of this year, I know Im not going to finish it until then so how long should I continue using it after it has expired?.

    PD: The best mineral sunscreen Ive found is th Elta MD UV pure SPF 47, its lightweight due to its silicon base and with 10% zinc oxide and 5% titanium dioxide gives protection to all UVA ranges. Besides, these two minerals are micronized which redices the white cast compared to others. Another great thing? its fragrance free.
    The downside is that it doesnt contain antioxidants, just a little bit of vitamin C, and its odor may not be too pleasant.
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    3 years from manufacture date. (Products in the EU use Period After Opening which tells you how long it's good after you open it. 
  • lindygirl1960
    I tried a sample of the Elta MD clear given to me by my dermatologist. Unfortunately it broke my skin out. It does seem to be a nice product, just doesn't work for my oily sensitive skin. 
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