Recommendations for budget suncsreen - and does it expire?

[TaraPA]

We joined the pool for the summer & have already gone through an entire bottle of sunscreen in less than a week. I got sticker shock when I went to buy more - the cheapest my grocery store had was $9.99! I remember Kmart uses to sell these huge bottles of NO AD for like $5 - is this still around? Any suggestions of store brand or cheaper sunscreens? I don't care if they're lotions or sprays. It has to be at least SPF 15 and waterproof.

Also - I just dug out some suncreen lotion - it's at least 2 years old if not 3 - does sunscreen expire?

 

[sunlover13]

I heard the Target brand Up & Up is supposed to be pretty good.

I bought both the spray and the lotion, but haven't used them yet.

I can't remember the price, but it was definitely cheaper than $9.99.

The spray was also a larger bottle than most spray ones.

 

[HillPete]

Yes! Sunscreen expires!!! If it's more than a year old, divide the SPF by at least 3 and that's the maximum coverage you can expect. (this is not an exact science, just a guideline).

Definitely try Target or Walmart. I can't find NO AD around here anymore. Lemme know if you find it!

--H

 

[Tink-n-MrIncredible]

In the last issue of consumers report it rated Targets up and up brand as number one. I personally have not tried it. Right now CVS has a deal on some can't remember the brand. If you have a Sam's or other wholeseale place price it there.

 

[PrincessBelle09]

Yeah, the Target Up & Up brand spray sunscreen is rated very high. I personally haven't it, but my mom has and really liked it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, it expires, and can expire even faster than marked if you store it in a hot place. Sunscreen that's a year old is about 30% of marked strength, older than that and there is no point in even bothering to use it.

 

[Swimalie]

Trader Joe's has some excellent sunscreen as does Wegman's. Both are around $3 a bottle and are free of a lot of the bad chemicals that I know I don't want on me or my family.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

I bought Walmart brand spray-on yesterday for $5

 

[Stitch And Friends]

Target Up&Up sunscreen works very well, and the price is much better than a lot of the other brands. I have extrememly fair Irish skin so I burn VERY easily. I used the Up&Up spray on our trip to Antigua last month and didn't burn at all. Considering how close we were to the equator, I think the sunscreen is great and won't waste my money on Coppertone anymore like I used to!

 

[Akmayeli]

We use the spray on CVS brand in the pink bottle. It is great and only $7.99. We have stayed at the pool before for 5 hours straight and I forgot to re apply. Well, thankfully my kids weren't the least bit pink.

 

[Piglet843]

I dunno much about it losing SPF - but I had a bad reaction to some expired sunscreen on my trip last summer.
Complete with head to toe rash.
That was not a fun way to spend about 4 of my 7 days at the beach!

ETA - then I had to buy lots of expensive anti itch creams at the local pharmacy.
That - was not budget friendly....

 

[DisMN]

I'd recommend Target brand Up and Up too. Everything Up and UP has performed well for my family.

As far as sunscreens expiring.........I have several bottles of various sunscreens, ALL of them over 5 years old and the coppertone one is probably closer to 10 years old. Works just fine and is still as protective as the label says.
To the person that broke out in a rash, it could very well be a sun rash and not at all related to your sun screen.

 

[TaraPA]

THANKS for all the recommendations! We have a Target about 15 min. from here, looks like I'll be making a trip there soon. And as far as the old sunscreen I found, I will toss it!

 

[ocalla]

I second the CVS brand. Picked up a can before a soccer game, the entire team sprayed it on as well as myself and family, it worked great!!

The game was in the middle of the day, it was a cloudless VERY HOT day and the sunscreen didn't sweat off.

 

[fakereadhed]

Aldi has great sunscreen for under $4. When I see it there I stock up! If there is an expiration on an unopened bottle that I store in my house, I trust the expiration date.

 

[amberjack]

We used up & up on our last WDW trip and it worked well. No burns We got a 2 pack of the cans for around $10, I think.