Suntan Lotion ??? Bug Spray??

[ctc917]

So I was wondering if anyone knew how long suntan lotion lasts? In the past I have had some that works the next summer and then sometimes it doesn't and we get burnt...So I was wondering how long do you keep your suntan lotion? Is there a certain brand you have better luck with? Lotion? Spray? Which do you like better?

Also the same questions go for Bug Spray? how long do you keep it for? and which brand do you have the best luck with?

Thanks

ctc917

 

[kmb584]

So I was wondering if anyone knew how long suntan lotion lasts? In the past I have had some that works the next summer and then sometimes it doesn't and we get burnt...So I was wondering how long do you keep your suntan lotion? Is there a certain brand you have better luck with? Lotion? Spray? Which do you like better?

Also the same questions go for Bug Spray? how long do you keep it for? and which brand do you have the best luck with?

Thanks

ctc917

There should be an expiration date printed on your sunscreen bottle. If not, you can call the company and provide them with the numbers printed on the bottle (seemingly random but are coded for the batch and date of manufacture) and they can let you know if it has expired. Personally, we go through an entire bottle every 3 months (very fair skinned) so I've never experienced having one go bad.

 

[Megkel]

Yep there is an expiration date on the bottle, usually it's a year or so ahead. I personally prefer spray lotion to the regular stuff. My hands always feel so greasy after rubbing sunscreen on myself and the kids. Plus it's easier to get places like the back of my knee, which I have burnt before. I get a small bottle for faces, but I have also used the stick (I don't care for those). Usually I just carry the bottle with me and if I notice someone is looking a bit pink, everyone gets sprayed again. I try to do it after eating though. Lunch the sun is out full force so can't hurt to reapply. Right now I am using Coppertone. It doesn't have a sticky feeling afterwards and it seems to be absorbed into my skin really well

 

[ctc917]

thanks for the information. I did notice the expiration date on the bottles but even thou its still in code sometimes when I try to use it the next summer I get burnt so I was wondering if anyone else had this problem or do you just throw it out from one summer to another?

ctc917

 

[texasroni75]

Most sunscreen is designed to have a 3-year shelf-life. BUT, if you've left it out in very hot temps (such as, in a hot car for many days), it cuts the life of the lotion. The best way to tell other than the expiration date, is that when it starts to "go bad", it will smell funny, separate, or start to crystallize.

If it's an aerosol can, though, chances are it's good pretty much forever, since air isn't getting to degrade it.

 

[ctc917]

thanks everyone for your ideas on Suntan lotion...any experience with Bug Spray? I didn't see expiration dates on ours...

ctc917

 

[lucyem]

thanks for the information. I did notice the expiration date on the bottles but even thou its still in code sometimes when I try to use it the next summer I get burnt so I was wondering if anyone else had this problem or do you just throw it out from one summer to another?

ctc917

I buy new each spring. I am very fair and don't want to play games with the sun. My oldest DS is like me and got sun poisoning because my MIL put some old stuff on him & never even considered reapplying. In Hawaii. She and DH tan so it is kind of outside their experiences, but I was furious. . I was sent a photo of him after they went to the medical clinic. He was so swollen he looked like a different kid. I also only buy items on this list: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/

Bug spray is different. Deet for example does not expire as it is pretty stable. In general they say to replace yearly or when it expires. Effectiveness will decrease over time. They being the various articles on google