What is the shelf life of suntan lotion? Expiration date of sunscreen after opening

1. HOW DOES MY SKIN TAN?

When exposed to UV rays from the sun, pigment cells in the skin produce the brown pigment melanin as a protective measure. It is produced by our bodies to absorb UV radiation and fight free radicals. The production of melanin is the body's natural protective reaction to sunlight. It is important to understand that skin sensitivity is affected by its natural color and individual predisposition to tanning.

2. WHAT DOES SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) MEAN?

The sun protection factor (SPF) determines how long you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned, based on your skin's own protective abilities. For example, if you start to burn after 10 minutes in the sun, then using a sunscreen with SPF 10 will increase your “self-protection time” by 10 times and allow you to safely stay in the sun for 100 minutes. Therefore, sun protection must be tailored according to your skin type. Additionally, the correct amount of protectant must be used for best protection. The recommended amount is 2 mg/cm2 per application. In other words, a finger-length strip of product will be enough for the face, but 2-3 tablespoons will be needed for an adult’s body.

3. HOW MUCH SUNSCREEN SHOULD I APPLY?

The degree of protection will vary depending on the amount of sunscreen applied, so it should be applied liberally to all areas of the skin. As a rule, many people forget about the back of the neck, upper chest and back of the legs. Using sunscreen is a very important part of effective sun protection and should always be applied before your skin is exposed to sunlight. Approximately 2-3 tablespoons of product should be used per application. Reapply every 2 hours and every time after you have bathed, toweled off or sweated.

4. DO CHILDREN AND ADULTS REALLY NEED DIFFERENT SUNPROOF PROTECTION?
Children's skin is more sensitive to UV radiation. Children's delicate skin is very vulnerable, and babies have not yet developed their own defenses. Sufficient skin thickness and the ability to pigment are fully formed only by adolescence. Frequent sunburn in childhood can subsequently lead to skin cancer, so for children it is necessary to use products with a high or very high degree of SPF protection. In addition, children love to swim and bathe. This reduces the skin's own level of protection and partially washes away the UV filters. To maximize the longevity of sunscreen, we have developed children's lotions and sprays with extra water-resistant properties, and *Kids Swim&Play* even provides ultra-water-resistant protection.

According to the approved standard of the Association of Personal Hygiene “Cosmetics of Europe”, when testing sunscreens for extra-water resistance, subjects apply cream to the skin, after which they take a bath 4 times for 20 minutes. When testing our products for ultra-waterproof protection, subjects take 6 baths for 20 minutes each, and even then, more than 50% of the sunscreen remains on the skin.

5. IS IT POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE LASTING TIME OF SUN PROTECTION BY REPEATED APPLICATION?

The protective effect does not increase with repeated application, which is why it is so important to use a product with high SPF protection from the very beginning. To maintain the selected level of protection, you must reapply the product every 2 hours, and also if you used a towel or swam.

6. WHAT DOES “WATER RESISTANT” MEAN?

For water resistance testing in Europe, there is a standard approved by the Personal Care Association "Cosmetics of Europe" (the main organization in the cosmetics industry). According to this standard, all of our water-resistant sunscreens have been independently tested for water resistance and pass this test. After applying the product, subjects take a bath 2 times for 20 minutes (for water resistance) or 4 times for 20 minutes (for extra water resistance), after which at least 50% of the product must remain on the skin. However, water resistance does not mean that the original level of sun protection can be maintained indefinitely.

7. CAN I REVERSE LAST YEAR’S SUNSCREEN, OR WILL THE PROTECTION BE LESS EFFECTIVE?

We guarantee the quality of the product for 12 months after opening. If the product was stored under normal conditions at room temperature and has not changed its appearance or smell, you can safely use it next year.
Shelf life depends on factors such as physical instability (liquid separation), changes in odor or color of the product. The common belief that the level of sun protection decreases over time and only fresh foods can provide full protection is incorrect.

8. CAN SUNSCREEN BE USED WITH NIVEA BODY OR FACE CARE PRODUCTS?

This is possible if you first apply NIVEA sunscreen, wait 15 to 30 minutes, and only then use a NIVEA body or face care product. In this case, the effectiveness of the UV-A and UV-B filters of the sunscreen will not be reduced.

9. WHAT CAUSES AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO THE SUN?

10. HOW TO GET RID OF YELLOW STAINS ON CLOTHES THAT REMAIN AFTER USING SUN PROTECTION?

Products containing various UV filters protect the skin from UVA and UVB radiation. UV-A filters tend to leave yellow stains on clothing. Stains form if clothing is in contact with the skin before the product is completely absorbed. In this case, you must first wash the clothes without detergent at a temperature of 30°C, and then in a normal washing mode using liquid detergent, also at a temperature of 30°C. If the stains are old and washing does not help, we recommend soaking the clothes for 1 hour in a solution of citric acid (50 g of citric acid per 1 liter of water). Be careful with delicate fabrics and mother-of-pearl buttons. Before using the product, please test it on an inconspicuous area. Alternatively, you can try removing stubborn stains using a commercial laundry stain remover, following the product instructions. Then wash the item with liquid detergent at 30°C. In other words, avoid using bleaches, active oxygen products, powder detergents, and high temperature washing. Caution: Please be aware that citric acid poses some hazards through skin contact (irritant, sensitizer), eye contact (irritant), and ingestion and inhalation (irritant). Contact with the skin can cause inflammation and blisters. The degree of tissue damage depends on the duration of contact. For this reason, we strongly recommend wearing protective gloves when working with citric acid and not inhaling citric acid dust.

11. WHY DOES YOUR SKIN NOT TAN AS MUCH WHEN USING SUN PROTECTION AS WITHOUT IT?

Many people think that products with a high sun protection factor (SPF) slow down the tanning process, and therefore use products with a lower SPF. However, even products with high SPF protection do not prevent tanning. Of course, this process will take a little longer, but it will be more gentle on your skin. By blocking the effects of UV radiation, products with a high sun protection factor protect the skin from sunburn and premature aging.

12. WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF NIVEA PRODUCTS?

All NIVEA products can be stored unopened for 30 months from the date of manufacture, unless the product has a special expiration date. Exposure to heat and sunlight can cause changes in the structure of foods over time. We recommend throwing away any old food if it has changed consistency, color or smell.

13. WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SUN ALLERGIES?

The cause of sun allergy is oxidative stress caused by the formation of free radicals in skin cells under the influence of UV radiation. This causes the immune system to overreact, causing inflammation and multiple allergic symptoms. This mainly affects people with sensitive skin, and they make up approximately 20% of the population. This is not dangerous, but it causes very unpleasant sensations. Sun allergies can be avoided by properly balancing the protective system of UVA and UVB filters, especially by ensuring a high level of UVA protection. Active ingredients such as vitamin E, which protect skin cells, can also enhance skin protection from sun damage. So that you can choose the best combination for yourself with varying degrees of protection, we offer you a wide range of sunscreen lotions and sprays. For people with sensitive skin, we recommend *NIVEA Sun Protect & Sensitive*.

Summer is in full swing, and if until now you have neglected sun protection, now is the time to change that. We debunk the most popular myths.

In the summer you can't do without sunscreen - but it's often used incorrectly. Here are five myths associated with this remedy.

1. Sunscreen is not needed on cloudy days.

Many people have found themselves in a similar situation: it’s cloudy outside, you go out for a walk without protection from the sun, and in the evening you discover that you’ve burned out. It is generally accepted that you don’t need to apply cream if the sky is overcast, because they already protect the skin from the sun’s rays. However, it is not. Clouds, of course, block some of the ultraviolet, but 80% of the radiation still reaches the Earth's surface. Moreover, clouds can reflect ultraviolet rays, which even increases the negative effects of the sun.

2. The most important thing is the SPF factor

All advice on buying the right product begins with what level of SPF you should take (“of course, from 15 and above”) - as if these three letters decide everything. SPF ("sun protection factor" - sun protection factor) can be compared to distance marks in a swimming pool: who can swim how far. With a cream with SPF 15 you can stay outside 15 times longer than without sun protection, with SPF 30 - 30 times. That is, SPF does not indicate how much (in percentage) it protects your skin from ultraviolet radiation. Although creams with SPF 15 block 93% of UV rays, and SPF 30 blocks approximately 97%.

There is also no specific data on the effectiveness of creams with different SPF factors. When testing, specialists apply 2 mg of the product per 1 cm² of skin and then determine the factor. The buyer usually uses 25-50% less of this volume. Moreover, the chemical composition of creams varies. The US Food and Drug Administration identifies 17 types of molecules that reflect UV radiation at different wavelengths: from 200 to 400 nm on the electromagnetic spectrum. The remaining components of the cream are responsible for moisture resistance or stability of the chemical composition, which also affects how long the protection against UV radiation lasts.

In Japan, Australia and Europe, authorities have already taken measures to limit the level of SPF in sunscreens due to the fact that such products give consumers a false sense of security. So, on the shelves of stores in these countries you cannot find a cream with an SPF higher than 50.

3. People with dark or dark skin do not need sun protection

Everyone's skin is different, and some people burn faster than others. It's all about the level of melanin - the skin pigment that absorbs UV radiation. However, you should not hope that melanin will protect you from the sun, and you do not need any cream: if the level of melanin protection is calculated in SPF, we will get SPF 1.5-2. In addition, melanin does not cope as effectively with the most dangerous UV rays - ultraviolet A radiation, which penetrates deeper into the skin.

4. Why buy a new tube if the old one hasn’t run out yet?

Many people believe that best before date on a tube of cream - this is just a trick by the manufacturer so that the product does not linger on the shelves. According to one survey, a third of buyers don't look at all best before date sunscreen. And it’s worth paying attention to: the components of the cream break down over time and lose their effectiveness.

Not only will old cream not protect your skin, it can also cause harm. For example, the American cosmetics manufacturer Banana Boat was forced to recall all products produced between January 2010 and September 2012. It was discovered that these creams could "under certain conditions... ignite on the skin" - for example, if a person applied the product and, without allowing it to dry, went to grill kebabs and brought his hand close to the fire.

By the way, if you always apply a sufficient amount of cream to your skin, by the end of summer there will be nothing left of it, and the problem will disappear by itself.

5. Sunscreens contain toxic substances

Newspapers are full of headlines like “Is sunscreen harmful to your skin” or “Is sunscreen a danger to your skin?” These concerns stem from recent studies in which individual ingredients in creams were tested for side effects and possible negative health effects. The link between photoaging and skin cancer is well known; but possible side effects from the use of sunscreens remain at the level of guesswork.

For example, in the United States, sunscreens are subject to rigorous research: since the late 1970s, these products have been allowed to be sold without a prescription, and now their quality is monitored more carefully than the quality of any other cosmetic product that comes into contact with the skin.

Some newspapers even complain: Europeans allow much more chemical components in creams than in America. The revision of the list of permitted elements has been dragging on since 2002, as a result of which US President Barack Obama even signed the Sunscreen Innovation Act in November 2014.

For everyone who shies away from the word “chemicals” and doesn’t even want to hear about using sunscreen, think about this: plant spores contain elements that naturally block UV rays. The pigmented secretion that is secreted through the skin of the hippopotamus protects the animal from sunburn. Why don’t people learn from nature and take an example from it?

If you believe the information on the packages and cans, the shelf life of the latter sunscreen is from 6 to 12 months from the moment of opening. And you, having counted the days remaining until your cherished vacation, naively believe that the product you bought last summer (and of which, thanks to your economy, there is still half a jar left) will be more than enough for you this season? Don't be so sure...

In 2015, sales of sunscreen products (both protective and those that need to be applied after sun exposure to even out the tan) in Europe grew by a record 9.4%. These data are explained by the fact that the local population has become more savvy in matters of skin protection, and the flow of tourists visiting the coasts of European seas in the hot months makes at least “half of the cash.” But millions of units of products (although there are no exact figures, of course), which should have ended their short life last year, are now lying in closets and beach bags, waiting to be taken with them to the beach or warmer countries again. But take your time...

Put on glasses with a good lens (or arm yourself with a magnifying glass) and look on the packaging for a tiny symbol in the form of an open jar, and next to it is a number next to the letter M. This number is the number of months for which it is recommended to use this product. And you will hardly find a product that can be used for longer than 12M (that is, twelve months).

Why is it important to consider this parameter, and not the expiration date, when choosing a tanning cream? And is it possible to use the cream after these M? The ultraviolet radiation we are exposed to when we are in direct sunlight without protecting our skin can cause skin cancer. Nonsense, you say, isolated cases. However, according to WHO data for 2016, it was skin cancer that was the leader (if such a terrible disease can be called the winner) among malignant tumors in Russia: its share was 14.2%, and the annual increase in incidence threatens to exceed the 5% mark.

The Russian oncology portal onkoforum.ru also notes that in the vast majority of cases (90%) skin cancer occurs and progresses in open (and, therefore, accessible to the sun) areas of the body, and 70% of tumors are noted on the face and around it.

In Russia, according to the same portal, from 2004 to 2014, the prevalence of skin cancer diagnosed with melanoma increased from 36.1 to 54.8 cases per 100,000 people. The statistics, you see, are very sad.

And if we add to this the fact that the sun accelerates photoaging (that is, it dries out the skin, “draws” pigment spots and creates rows of wrinkles), it becomes completely sad.

But there is no need to panic. It’s just that sunscreen should complement all your trips to the active summer sun, and even more so during the hot holidays. We know that, you say. There it is, the treasured jar, it’s still been in the closet since last year, waiting. And you don’t need to buy anything, everything has already been purchased in advance, because we are prudent. But is it possible to rely on “reserves” when it comes to using sunscreen? Let's figure it out. For example, in the case of both, you need to carefully study the packaging for the expiration date, after which both products can significantly damage your health.

True, in the case of cream, you need to pay attention to two parameters: the already mentioned expiration date and PAO (Period After Opening), that is, the period after opening the package during which its contents must be used. Simply put, the period of recommended consumption, that very “open jar”.

Understanding that tanning creams and sunscreens are not the most popular products throughout the year, we can assume that all these difficult-to-understand details are just a matter of marketing. This conclusion can be reached by noting that all PAOs typically last between 6 and 12 months. In fact, when determining this date, two factors are taken into account:

firstly, once depressurized, the formula comes into contact with external agents, which gradually destroy it;
secondly, most likely, of all the cosmetic products that we use regularly, it is the “sun” products that suffer from the worst treatment.

In other words, storage conditions play an important role in the “performance” of a sunscreen. But with a beach set it is difficult to comply with all the necessary conditions, since it wanders between beach bags, a car glove compartment and a shelf in a closet, gets covered with sand, is forgotten under the scorching sun and after some time even stops closing normally.

“Because of this busy life that such a cream lives, it is very difficult to guarantee the stability and longevity of both the composition itself and its active ingredients,” explains Christina Thiemblo, national representative of the skin pharmacy section of the General Council of the College of Pharmacists.

Ideally, to preserve the cream, several rules must be followed:

avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures, which may cause some ingredients to lose potency or “change in behavior”;
keep the bottles closed, as some active components may “mutate” when exposed to air;
protect them from direct sunlight (the product may be photosensitive).

But even if all these requirements are met, you will use the product after the expiration date indicated on the packaging at your own peril and risk. This does not mean that the product will not work at all, but the manufacturer will no longer be responsible for its effectiveness, since its active components will lose their strength. In general terms, “...the formula of sunscreens is such that they can remain effective, being hermetically sealed, for three years from the date of production,” explains Aurore Barranjer, marketing director at Laboratorios Uriage (Spain). So yes, and in this case the products have an expiration date, since its components degrade anyway. However, this information is rarely indicated on the packaging. The relevant provision regulates that the shelf life of the product when unopened is more than 30 months; this is not printed on the label (in any case, this is not considered mandatory), while if it is 2.5 years or less, this must certainly be indicated. True, sometimes even the manufacturers themselves, when launching a product on the market, cannot give an accurate forecast and declare a minimum shelf life - that is, 24 months (and this must be indicated on the packaging). Having understood the theory, let's move on to practice. What should you do if you did not check the expiration dates at the time of purchase or opened the package without using its contents? In this situation, all experts rely solely on the common sense of the buyer. You should try to remember what the product looked like when you first opened it and be prepared to recognize changes.

The easiest way to determine this is by texture and aroma. If lumps appear in a homogeneous liquid, the color changes, or the composition breaks up into creamy and liquid components, this means that you need to get rid of it. If the cream smells strange, it may be that one of the ingredients has oxidized, and then it also cannot be used. In other words, it’s better not to take risks: feel free to throw away the spoiled cream and take this as an opportunity to try new products in the coming season: for example, a refreshing tanning cream or a product that prevents sand from sticking to the skin. P.S. Sunscreens and other related products are different: expensive and not very expensive, produced in Europe, the USA or Asia, created using certain components, based on different formulas, as well as different forms of release: sprays, oils, emulsions, etc. . But what they have in common is the protection they give us by preventing the sun from harming our skin. It is only important not to forget to apply them (preferably in advance, 15-20 minutes before the expected time of tanning, and not during the tanning process), and to update them periodically (dermatologists recommend doing this every two to three hours if you continue to be exposed to UV rays) , and also - vigilantly check the expiration date when purchasing goods and do not store opened packages until the next season. And then the insidious sun will not be able to prevent you from enjoying the warmth and summer days!

Sources: ElPaís, Russian Oncology Portal

www.estetic-gid.ru

Tanning cream - its expiration date and whether it is possible to use last year's cream

Next time you head to the beach, be sure to check to see if your sunscreen is still effective. It, of course, does not spoil as quickly as milk and other products, but it still has its own shelf life.

This period depends on the conditions in which you store your cream, explains Georgios Imanidis, a professor at the University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland.

If tanning cream has been stored in a cool, dry place (in a closet, for example), it can remain good for five or even ten years. Meanwhile, most manufacturers officially limit the service life of their creams to three years, and only if the product is stored under optimal conditions.

However, people often take sunblock to the beach, leave it in a hot car, or carry it around in their backpacks. When tanning cream heats up, its constituent elements begin to disintegrate faster - which means the end of the cream's shelf life is approaching faster.

What is sunscreen made of?

Sunblock contains inorganic compounds such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. They prevent sunburn by absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet rays that would otherwise penetrate the skin.

But, in addition to this, the tanning cream also contains ingredients that give it a pleasant aroma and a soft, delicate texture, thanks to which the cream is easy to apply. These ingredients include natural oils, aloe vera, emulsifying agents (substances that help oils and water mix into a homogeneous mass).

How does tanning cream spoil?

It is the emulsifiers that are destroyed first. Without this ingredient, the water and oil separate from each other, causing the cream to be too runny, too grainy, or simply no longer applies to the skin as well as it used to. In this case, just shake the bottle well before use, experts advise.

Over time, other components of the cream begin to degrade, causing it to lose some of its sun protection properties. But still, it’s still a tanning cream, although not as effective as before.

For example, a cream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 55 can eventually become a cream with 40 or 30 SPF. The numbers 55, 40 and 30 in this case mean how much time a person can spend in the sun without getting burned. If a person usually gets burned in 10 minutes, then with SPF 30 he can stay in the sun 30 times longer or 300 minutes (5 hours).

How often and how much cream to apply to the skin

It should be noted that few people apply as much cream to their body as the manufacturers recommend. The gold standard is 2 milligrams per square centimeter.

But if you are using an expired (less effective) cream and are not applying enough cream to your skin, then at least reapply it every 2-3 hours.

Which is better - cream or spray?

Also, keep in mind that sprays are less effective than creams:

“We found that the sprays did not last as long as other sun protection products,” says Professor Imanidis. – If your cream is thick enough, you only need to apply it two to three times a day. And you’ll have to use the spray every hour.”

Source

www.continentusa.com

5 Myths About Sunscreen

Summer is in full swing, and if until now you have neglected sun protection, now is the time to change that. We debunk the most popular myths.

In the summer you can't do without sunscreen - but it's often used incorrectly. Here are five myths associated with this remedy.

1. Sunscreen is not needed on cloudy days.

2. The most important thing is the SPF factor

3. People with dark or dark skin do not need sun protection

4. Why buy a new tube if the old one hasn’t run out yet?

Many people believe that the expiration date on a tube of cream is just a trick by the manufacturer so that the product does not sit on the shelves. According to one survey, a third of consumers don't look at the expiration date of sunscreen at all. And it’s worth paying attention to: the components of the cream break down over time and lose their effectiveness.

By the way, if you always apply a sufficient amount of cream to your skin, by the end of summer there will be nothing left of it, and the problem will disappear by itself.

5. Sunscreens contain toxic substances

ru.insider.pro

Why expired cosmetics are harmful: expiration dates of different products and how to check

Many girls are interested in this question: is it possible to use expired cosmetics? Is it really that harmful? Let's try to find out.

How can expired cosmetics harm you?

Expired cosmetics can be very dangerous to your health. Of course, its use may simply have a negative impact on the quality of makeup, but it can also lead to the following consequences:

infectious infection (if the shelf life of decorative cosmetics has expired, bacteria may form in it);
various inflammatory processes on the skin;
poisoning;
allergy.

Of course, this “worst” may not happen, but in any case, to the question of whether expired cosmetics are harmful, the answer is clear. Yes. At the same time, cosmetics may be spoiled even before their expiration date, so carefully follow storage rules and do not keep open tubes in a hot place.

Checking the expiration date of cosmetic products

In order to see the expiration date of cosmetics, you need to study its packaging; as a rule, such information is located there. It is necessary to understand that the expiration date on the packaging is indicated in its closed state; if the packaging has been damaged, then the shelf life of natural cosmetics becomes much shorter.

Shelf life of natural cosmetics

The expiration date of cosmetics is checked based on the date indicated on its packaging. There are several nuances that the shelf life of natural cosmetics has:

Natural soap

On average, it can be stored for 7 months, but a lot depends on its type. The longest service life is for soap that contains natural antioxidants, for example, jojoba.

Cream

Natural, custom-made cream has a shelf life of no more than 30 days in the refrigerator. If the product is manufactured industrially - from 6 months to two years. This cosmetics contains a concentrate and the more of it, the longer the shelf life of the cosmetics. Also, the duration of storage can be affected by the interaction of natural components - oils and natural ingredients.

Mask

A sealed package containing natural ingredients can be stored for three to six months. If the package is opened, it can be stored for no more than one to two weeks.

Shampoo

Handmade shampoos with the addition of oils should be used no later than two months after their creation. But the shelf life of industrially produced natural cosmetics, in particular shampoo, is 18 months.

Shelf life of decorative products

Now let's find out what the shelf life of decorative cosmetics is. I would like to immediately note that it is somewhat longer in comparison with natural ones, but, nevertheless, you should not go beyond the limits specified by the manufacturer, since in any case, expired cosmetics can harm your skin.

So, how to find out the expiration date of cosmetics? Let's start in order with the most popular products that girls like to use.

Concealer

Judging by the manufacturers’ words, you can use this product for about two years, but ideally it is better not to use it for longer than 6-9 months after opening the package. In most cases, the duration of its storage directly depends on its composition. If the product is based on water, then it should be used for no more than one year. After all, the water will continuously evaporate, thereby creating an excellent place for the development of bacteria and harmful microorganisms. How to understand that cosmetics have expired? If the foundation has a sharp unpleasant odor, its structure has changed (it separates, foam appears, and becomes separated from the water), do not hesitate to part with it.

Pomade

It is recommended to use this cosmetic product for no more than 2.5-3 years. Is it possible to use expired cosmetics, in particular lipstick? Definitely not, since it is already extremely capricious in storage. For example, lipstick does not tolerate bright light. Under the influence of the sun's rays, the oils contained in lipstick release harmful and, in some cases, toxic toxins, so lipstick should always be stored only in a dark place.

The package must not be kept with the lid open; it must always be closed, as its properties are deteriorated by contact with air. If you notice that after applying it your lips become unusually dry or there is an unpleasant feeling of stickiness, then you should no longer use it.

Contour pencils for eyes and lips. These cosmetics can be used for up to two years, and they are the most demanding. The pencil itself is cleaned when it is sharpened, and there are virtually no harmful bacteria on its surface. At the same time, it is recommended to wipe the pencil sharpener itself from time to time using a sponge soaked in an alcohol solution.

Touche

It can be stored for six months, but in reality the shelf life of cosmetics after opening is three to four months. That’s right, three months after you start using this cosmetic product, it should be renewed. Are expired cosmetics, in particular mascara, harmful? Of course, because it comes into direct contact with the mucous membrane of your eyes, which can result in inflammation of the cornea, conjunctivitis and many other dangerous and unpleasant diseases. The carcass needs special care; if you want to maximize its service life, do not allow air to get inside the tube. Many of us push the brush in both directions inside the tube before tinting our eyelashes. But this is precisely what leads to excess accumulation of air, as a result of which the eyelashes stick together, the mascara lies in clumps, and can crumble.

When applying paint, the brush must be twisted like a screw, without removing it from the tube, and after that it can be applied to the eyelashes. If there is a need to restore the mascara right this second, then you can do this by placing the lower part of the tube in warm water, so it will become more liquid. Make sure that the edges of the package remain clean, otherwise you simply will not be able to close the package hermetically. As a result of this, the carcass will dry out.

Is it possible to extend the shelf life of cosmetics?

If you have expired cosmetics, then many girls wonder what the expiration date of cosmetics is and how you can extend its use. After the packaging of any cosmetic product has been opened, you need to know that its shelf life is automatically reduced to six months, regardless of the original date indicated on the packaging.

True, this rule cannot be applied to balms or body milk; you can use them before you completely use them up.

It is not recommended to keep tanning or sunscreen products for several years. Ideally, get rid of it immediately after the end of the summer season. The fact is that the rays of the sun have a negative impact on these cosmetics. Exposure to the sun's rays reduces the effectiveness of their filters. This means that when used in the new season, they will be practically useless. There is an opinion that you can store tanning products in the refrigerator. Only in this case will you be able to extend their service life. Do not leave the cream in direct sunlight or outdoors.

If you purchase a cream, it is better to choose the option in a bottle with a special dispenser or a small jar with a spatula. This will protect against bacteria, and of course, monitor the expiration date, because expired cosmetics, especially creams, can lead to skin irritation.

Cosmetics containing active substances must be kept in a cool, dark place. If you notice a sour smell, throw away the product immediately. Often, on the surface of expired cream you can notice a yellow coating or droplets of water. It is strictly forbidden to use such a product, since it will do nothing but harm.

By learning the most important aspects of using sunscreen, you can protect yourself from skin cancer and early signs of aging.

Use sunscreen only when outdoors

It should be used 365 days a year, not just on the beach. The sun's rays can affect your skin even when you're sitting near a window on a bus. To get used to using the cream every day, it is enough to find a moisturizer with an SPF value of at least 15. It must be used every day after taking a shower.

It is not at all a guarantee of prolonged exposure to the sun. A high rate gives people a false sense of security. This causes serious damage to the skin. The optimal product is a cream with SPF 30, which should be applied every two hours or more often if you decide to swim.

Insufficient amount of cream

Most people only apply 25 to 50% of the amount of sunscreen they need. When used correctly, the product should barely last for one season. As a rule, in hot weather it is necessary to replenish its reserves several times. If you use little cream, then even a high SPF will be ineffective.

Expired date

It is worth checking the expiration date of sunscreen in a timely manner. An expired product may not have the desired effect because the chemicals in its composition have ceased to be active. Also, do not store lotion in the glove compartment of your car. When a vehicle sits in the sun and heats up, this can accelerate the destruction of the protective substances in the cream.

The cream is not used in all necessary areas

It is not enough to cover only the arms, legs and back. Scientists who conducted the research came to the conclusion that skin cancer also rarely affects the ears, lips, front and back of the neck, and upper legs. Sunscreen should be applied to these areas of the skin, and for lips, choose a lipstick with SPF. For the scalp it is worth choosing special protective products (sprays, mousses).

Timely application

Do not delay applying the cream until you come to the beach or pool. It's best to do this at home. Firstly, the cream will have the opportunity to be better absorbed into the skin, which means it will fully exert its effect. Secondly, you will apply the product more thoroughly, because on the beach it is easier to get distracted and tempted to swim, forgetting about precautions.

Incorrect sequence

Everyone is used to applying cream after putting on a swimsuit or swimming trunks. As a result, after a day spent at the beach, you may notice stripes of burnt skin in the areas where the line between exposed skin and the straps runs. This is why it is necessary to apply cream before putting on a swimsuit.

You don't always use broad-spectrum sunscreen

The SPF number on sunscreen bottles is an indicator of how well the product protects your skin from UVB rays as opposed to UVA rays. Look for a bottle that says "broad spectrum," which indicates the formula will also protect against UVA rays.

Color of the skin

While it's true that darker skin has natural protection against sunburn and skin cancer, this alone is not enough to keep you from suffering damage. Even people with dark skin need to apply lotion with SPF 30 every two hours.

Summer clothing protects from the sun

This is not true at all. It is not uncommon for people to get melanoma even in areas that were protected by clothing. Therefore, you should carefully select your summer wardrobe, giving preference to breathable fabrics, as well as protecting your skin with sunscreen.

The effect of the cream is reduced by exposure to water.

There is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen, and manufacturers are not allowed to provide this type of information on labels. Instead, they may say that the product is water resistant for 40-80 minutes. This means that its application should definitely be repeated after two hours.

The price of a cream is not a guarantee of its effectiveness

Many people, having paid a high price for a product, are confident in its highest efficiency. This is not always true. An expensive product may smell nicer and also have a much more attractive packaging design, but a cheap product is not always inferior to it in terms of protection. When choosing, you should pay attention to the composition and study the label in detail. Thus, protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation will be effective.

As you know, sunscreen is supposed to protect against two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB.

UVB causes tanning, sunburn and generally causes immediate and visible damage to the epidermis (the top layer of skin). UVA rays have the ability to penetrate deep into the skin, affect the dermis and exhibit their effects over a longer period. This means that skin damage after UVA exposure is not immediately visible, appears much later, but is the main cause of photoaging.

The SPF filter protects against UVB rays, and the IPD or PPD filters protect against UVA.

With that in mind, we're here to help you test your sunscreen. To do this, it is enough to answer the seven most important questions.

1. Does your product offer broad spectrum protection?

How can you tell if your cream protects against both types of rays: UVA and UVB? The phrase “cream with SPF” is not everything. You should make sure that the composition contains ingredients that are resistant to photoexposure. Look for the following names in the ingredient list: Zinc Oxide, Tinosorb S + Tinosorb M, XL + Mexoryl Mexoryl SX. New generation products also offer a filter such as Mexoplex Helioplex - if there is one, then the cream has comprehensive protection.

This is important to know if you expect to be in direct sunlight for a long time. For such situations, you should buy a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50, and containing one of the active ingredients listed above. You may also want to recommend a sunscreen labeled "outdoor sports" as well as a waterproof cream (which tends to be longer lasting).

3. Does your product protect against UVA rays?

Even if you avoid the sun all day, your skin is still exposed to those insidious UVA rays. Damage from them does not appear immediately.

Therefore, it is worth checking your skin regularly for new spots and mini-burns. Typically, the harmful effects of UVA appear within a day. If you see that, despite using the cream, new redness appears on the skin (and this happens a day after being exposed to air), most likely you need to go to the store for a new cream; yours does not cope with harmful UVA rays.

4. Has the sunscreen expired?

Most sunscreens have a decent shelf life - up to 3 years! However, this means that the product does not change its properties until the packaging is unsealed. If you have already started using the cream (for example, last summer or last season), then such a cream is effective only for a year after it was printed.

5. Are you storing sunscreen correctly?

You are doing the right thing if you take sunscreen with you when you leave the house for nature, the beach, or the open sun. After all, the cream layer needs to be constantly renewed.

But trouble happens when a tube of cream remains exposed to the sun for a long time: on the beach, in a car. In this case, the cream may change the effect of the active ingredients, which are damaged due to heat exposure. Therefore, make sure that the cream is always inside the cosmetic bag and, if possible, lies in the shade.

6. Which SPF number should I choose?

Choose products labeled SPF filters in accordance with accepted standards. They provide four degrees of solar protection:

- Very high degree of protection – factor 50+. Such funds are needed in the tropics and equatorial countries.

— High degree– 50, 30. These products will be needed on vacation near the water, in the mountains, at the sea.

— Average degree– factors 25, 20, 15. If you spend the summer in the city, as well as in the middle forest, then average protection is sufficient.

— Low– factors 10, 8, 6. Products with this indicator are intended for those who spend all day indoors. You can switch to products with a low and medium degree of protection after 5 days of constant use of products with a high degree of protection.

After 35 years, the skin is less protected from the sun, so protect it with drugs with a high and very high degree. After swimming, the degree of SPF protection in waterproof preparations is reduced by 50%. The SPF 50+ filter turns into SPF 25, and 30 turns into 15.

7. What should the PPD number be?

The PPD (or IPD) filter protecting against UVA rays should be 1/3 of the SPF protection.

May 22, 2013

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