Does suncream go 'off'?

[desperatehousewife]

Got a cupboard full of suncream from last year (and even possibly year before....) does it stop working and go off?

It should have a use by date on it.

yes but is that just to get you to buy more or do you think it really does go off?

nah htink tis all bollocks

yes it does. I kept some for ages and in the end it 'separated' and went all yucky. I'm thrifty and not a slave to sell by dates but even I lobbed it out and got some new styff

Yes - it does - Most Suncream has a Shelf life of about three years before it is out of date - all suncream now has a POA sticker on it which is how long it is good for. I have found it more economical to buy smaller tubes that great big ones which then get left year to year and as matianbishop said separates. Wouldn't risk old suncream on my kids. (mind you am paranoid as have early solar ketosis due to sun damage as a child!!!)

Yes, it does go off. We found some that was a bit too old and it smelled strange/

i was told by a pharmacist that suncream does "go off" after one year.

It can I think, but I'm sure last years will be ok. Should have a date on it. I'd only chuck it when it smells minging or goes a weird consistancy.

yes it goes off but dont know after how long

I think they generally say to chuck out 12 months after opening - there should be a picture on the bottom of it.
Personally (and I may just be a suncream providers dream) although I keep the cream from one summer to the next, I do end up throwing it out and buying new stuff - would prefer to spend another £20 or so on replenishing suppliers than burning.
There's loads of BOGOFs at this time of year, so it's a good time to stock up.

If they say to chuck out after a year, then it must be ok for two or three, IYSWIM.

I have some I've been using for 8 years or so (don't go in the sun very often!) which still works fine though - it's the thin squirty stuff so don't get the separation problem.