How long does sun cream last

Whether you want to know when your sun cream expires or how long it lasts before you should reapply, NIVEA can help.

How long will your sun cream last?

Does sun cream go off?

How often should you reapply sunscreen

The answer is every two hours! Unless you've been swimming or towelling off in which can it's best to reapply as soon as you're done.

How long before sun cream expires

All NIVEA products have a proven unopened shelf life of at least 30 months from the date of manufacture unless they carry a specific expiry or use by date but to make sure your sun cream lasts as long as possible it's best to:

- Store your sunscreen in a cool, dark and dry place when not in use to ensure the stability of the product

- Pay close attention to the texture, odour and colour of the product.

Exposure to heat and light may, after time, lead to some instability of the basic structure of the product. Our advice would be to discard any old products that may look grainy, watery or discoloured, or if the odour has changed.

Can you use a sun protection product from last year?

NIVEA guarantee the product quality for 12 months after opening. When the product has been stored under normal conditions at room temperature and does not look or smell strange, it can be used in the next season.

Sun cream can go off but the shelf life is limited by factors such as physical instability (separation of the emulsion), changes in the perfume and the colour of the product. The widespread opinion that the SPF of sun care products decreases over time and only fresh products provide full protection is not true.

To find out what SPF means or which SPF you should use read our guides.