Does Sunscreen Expire? How Athletes Should Check SPF

By Eugene Kim, Co-founder & Product Lead, HAESKN — former product lead at Estée Lauder Companies. Formulation reviewed with Julio Pina, award-winning cosmetic chemist and HAESKN advisor.

Yes. The FDA requires sunscreen to remain effective for at least three years from the manufacturing date—but that timeline assumes proper storage. If your SPF stick has been sitting in a hot car, gym bag, or court-side bench all summer, it's likely degraded well before the printed date.

For athletes who rely on sunscreen during long runs, padel matches, or trail rides, knowing when your SPF has expired isn't just about following a date on the bottle. It's about understanding how heat, sweat, and real-world storage conditions affect protection.

Why Sunscreen Expires

Sunscreen is regulated as an over-the-counter drug in the United States, not a cosmetic. That means the FDA holds it to the same stability standards as other nonprescription medications. Manufacturers must either print an expiration date on the packaging or demonstrate through stability testing that the formula holds up for at least three years.

The active ingredients—whether chemical filters like avobenzone and octinoxate or mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—break down over time. When they degrade, the SPF rating drops. You might think you're applying SPF 50, but you could be getting SPF 20 or less.

According to the Mayo Clinic, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that sunscreen remain at its original strength for at least three years." That three-year window applies to unopened sunscreen stored under reasonable conditions—cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight.

How to Find the Expiration Date

Not every sunscreen bottle has an obvious expiration date, and that can be confusing. The FDA doesn't require manufacturers to date their products if stability testing proves a three-year shelf life. But most brands do include one.

Here's where to look:

Spray sunscreens: Check the bottom of the can

Tube products: Look near the crimp at the top or on the side

Stick sunscreens: Date is often stamped on the base or the twist mechanism

Bottles: Check the bottom, side, or back label

If there's no date on the bottle, the FDA considers it expired three years after purchase. Write the purchase date on the bottle with a permanent marker so you don't have to guess later.

Heat Changes Everything

That three-year shelf life assumes your sunscreen has been stored in a cool, stable environment. Heat changes the equation significantly.

Research on sunscreen stability found that formulations stored at high temperatures degraded much faster, and that keeping sunscreen below 30°C (about 86°F) is important for maintaining its protective compounds.

This has practical implications most athletes overlook. Leaving a bottle in your car's glove compartment on a summer day, where temperatures can easily exceed 50°C (122°F), can slash the effectiveness of the active ingredients well before the printed expiration date.

Susan Booth, who oversees sunscreen testing at Consumer Reports, explains: "Heat and humidity can accelerate the breakdown of sunscreen. If the bottle is in your car or bathroom, the temperature fluctuations may have affected the product."

Chemical sunscreens with oxybenzone and avobenzone are especially vulnerable. These filters can degrade when exposed to high temperatures, and heat can cause the formula to separate, leading to uneven application and reduced protection.

Mineral sunscreens—those with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide—are generally more stable, but they're not immune. Heat can still cause separation and texture changes that affect how evenly the product spreads.

Signs Your Sunscreen Has Expired

Even if the date on the bottle says it's still good, your sunscreen may have degraded. Cleveland Clinic dermatologists recommend checking for these warning signs:

Separation: Oil pooling on top or watery liquid separating from the cream

Texture changes: Grittiness, clumping, or a thicker-than-usual consistency

Color shift: Yellowing or any change from the original color

Unusual smell: Sour, rancid, or chemical odor

Reduced performance: You burn despite proper application

If you notice any of these, toss the bottle regardless of the printed date. A sunscreen that looks and feels wrong isn't providing the protection it promises.

What Happens If You Use Expired Sunscreen?

The biggest risk is reduced UV protection. When sunscreen expires, its active ingredients lose effectiveness, and you have a higher chance of burning.

But there are other consequences:

Skin irritation: Degraded preservatives can make skin more sensitive or cause allergic reactions

Bacterial contamination: If preservatives have broken down, bacteria can grow in the bottle, potentially leading to infections

Uneven coverage: Separated or clumpy formulas don't spread evenly, leaving gaps in protection

Dr. Marisa Garshick, a board-certified dermatologist, notes: "Sunscreens that are expired can feel or look different from their original form with chemical sunscreens oxidizing and physical sunscreens degrading. If the consistency is different, it may not feel the same way going on the skin and make the skin more sensitive or irritated."

That said, if you're in a pinch and the consistency still looks okay, using expired sunscreen is typically better than using no sunscreen at all—but it's not a long-term solution.

How to Store Sunscreen Properly

To get the full three-year shelf life out of your sunscreen, storage matters as much as the expiration date.

Do:

Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place (bathroom cabinet, drawer, or closet)

Keep the cap tightly closed after each use to prevent air and contaminants from getting in

Wrap the bottle in a towel or keep it in a cooler bag during outdoor activities

Check the consistency before each use—give it a shake to make sure ingredients haven't separated

Don't:

Leave sunscreen in a hot car, especially in summer

Store it in direct sunlight (beach bag sitting in the sun, court-side bench)

Keep it in a humid bathroom where temperature fluctuates

Refrigerate it—extreme cold can cause the formula to separate and become unstable

The FDA recommends never exposing your sunscreen container to direct sunlight or excessive heat. If you're spending hours outdoors, protect the sunscreen by wrapping the container in a towel or keeping it in the shade.

For athletes who carry sunscreen in gym bags, padel bags, or running packs, consider using an insulated pouch or cooler bag to shield it from heat.

Stick Sunscreen vs. Lotion: Does Format Matter?

Both stick and lotion sunscreens follow the same expiration rules. There's no big difference between sprays and lotions when it comes to how long they last.

However, stick sunscreens have a practical advantage for athletes: they're less likely to spill or leak in a bag, and the solid format can be slightly more stable during temperature fluctuations. That said, sticks are still vulnerable to heat—if the stick melts or becomes too soft, the formula may have degraded.

HAESKN's SPF 50 sunscreen stick is formulated with FDA-approved chemical filters for a clear, no-white-cast finish. It's designed for one-hand reapplication during padel matches, runs, or cycling—but like all sunscreens, it needs proper storage to maintain its SPF 50 protection.

When to Replace Your Sunscreen

Even if your sunscreen hasn't hit the three-year mark, consider replacing it if:

You've had it for more than one season and it's been stored in less-than-ideal conditions (hot car, beach bag, gym locker)

The texture, color, or smell has changed

You're not sure when you bought it

It's been opened for more than 12 months and exposed to air frequently

Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, recommends a new sunscreen every season. "You may not know how long a sunscreen sat on the shelf at the store before you purchased it, so it may be impossible to determine when that three-year mark is up."

Another way to cut down on leftover sunscreen? Use more of it. If you're using sunscreen properly, you're using about one ounce to cover the full body each time, and you're reapplying every two hours. A standard bottle should run out in less than three years.

FAQ

Can I use sunscreen that expired last year?

If it's only a few months past the date and has been stored properly (cool, dry, no heat exposure), it may still offer some protection—but it's not guaranteed. Expired sunscreen is better than no sunscreen, but don't rely on it for extended outdoor activities. Replace it as soon as possible.

Does sunscreen expire faster once opened?

Yes. Opened products may begin to lose effectiveness sooner due to air and contaminant exposure. Most dermatologists recommend using opened sunscreen within 6 to 12 months, even if it hasn't reached the labeled expiration date.

Is mineral sunscreen more stable than chemical sunscreen?

Generally, yes. Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are usually more stable and hold up better over time. However, both types can degrade if exposed to heat, so proper storage is still essential.

What should I do if I get sunburned despite using sunscreen?

If you burn despite proper application, your sunscreen may have expired or degraded. Check the bottle for the warning signs listed above. If the sunscreen looks or smells off, replace it. Also, make sure you're applying enough—most people use only half the recommended amount, which cuts the SPF in half.

Can I store sunscreen in the fridge to make it last longer?

No. Extremely cold temperatures can be just as harmful as heat because they can cause the formula to separate and become unstable. Room temperature storage in a cool, dry place is best.

Go Get It: Fresh sunscreen is non-negotiable for outdoor athletes. If you're not sure when you bought it or it's been sitting in a hot car all summer, replace it. HAESKN's SPF 50 stick is designed for one-hand reapplication during padel, running, and everyday movement—no white cast, water-resistant, and built for athletes who don't stop. Shop HAESKN sunscreen sticks and keep your protection fresh.