Even if your sunscreen hasn’t passed its expiration date, if you notice a change in color, consistency or smell, chances are that your sunscreen has started breaking down, which means that it won’t be doing its job well and should be tossed. Ditto for any sunscreen kept for a long time in a really hot place, like the glove compartment of your car, since extreme heat will affect its performance. I have seen articles claiming that expired sunscreen works well as a moisturizer, shaving cream, to tame fly away hair and even as a great polish on plastic lawn furniture, but I have no idea if any of those suggestions are viable nor do I have any intention of trying them out, but feel free to experiment on your own!
It goes without saying that if you are religiously applying the recommended ounce of sunscreen to your skin every two hours, you won’t have any leftover sunscreen to worry about in the first place. Dermatologists caution that the number one mistake people make in sunscreen application is not using the recommended amount to cover all exposed body parts.
Given that no sunscreen can ward off 100 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays, you still need to consider other methods of sun protection. Stay in the shade, particularly between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and, if possible, wear wide brimmed hats and clothing that keeps the sun off your skin. According to a report in the New York Times, UV protective clothing has become a hot trend, with companies including Gap, Uniqlo and Lands End offering items that are infused with chemicals that absorb harmful rays. Densely woven clothing and dark colors offer the best protection against the sun’s harmful effects, but for those who prefer lighter, cooler fabrics, dye-maker Rit offers a laundry aid called Sun Guard which washes sun protection into an entire load of laundry. The product bears the endorsement of the Skin Cancer Foundation and, according to the product’s webpage, lasts through twenty washes and ups the ultraviolet protection factor of a plain white t-shirt from an SPF of 5 to an SPF of 30.
Finally, looking for a tasty ally in the war against skin cancer? A 2009 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that fresh cocoa beans, which are exceptionally high in antioxidants, could protect the skin from harmful UV rays, with participants in the study eating specially prepared dark chocolate containing extra flavanoids. While clearly chocolate is no substitute for sunscreen, if scientists say that nibbling on dark chocolate can boost sun protection, who are we to argue? So glob on the sunscreen, break out the darkest chocolate you can find and let the sun shine in!