Sometimes people go on sunny trips and cover up with sunscreen, and yet still get sunburned. There are a few reasons for why this might happen. One reason is your sunscreen does not have a high enough SPF, or not enough “re-applying” every so often. Another reason is that since the last sunny vacation three years ago, you have not purchased new sunscreen and it has expired. The active ingredients have broken down, and it is no longer a useful sunblock. If your sunscreen, lotion, or face cream has become oily, separated, or has a strange color, it is probably either too old or has been exposed to high temperatures which changed the quality of the cream or sunscreen. Don’t leave products in your hot car, or out in the sun for long. If your cream smells funny or rancid, throw it out. Buy enough sunscreen for your trip, and use it up! Keep creams and lotions in a cool, dry place. Sometimes the bathroom is not the greatest place for our products. I keep some my potions and lotions in a beautiful red box, and sometimes I put sunscreen in the ‘fridge. I think Beauty Alert! labels are a great way to keep track of all those lotions we put in travel jars. You can mark the date AND what it is, that way you won’t wonder…is this lotion? Sunscreen, or hair conditioner? Try to use up your sunscreen within six months.
Photo by David Hiller, photographer for Beauty Alert!
Gross separated, old, expired sunscreen! This unmarked travel jar needed Beauty Alert! labels.
