No one wants to spend the warm months hiding indoors with cardboard over the windows to block the sun’s harmful rays.
We’d rather be outside at the beach, strolling through a park, or enjoying a picnic. Those activities aren’t nearly as enjoyable in the dark.
Still, you must protect your skin because too much sun exposure leads to wrinkles, painful burns and even skin cancer.
You probably already cover up, wear a hat and lather on sunscreen. But did you realize sunscreen can expire?
The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that sunscreen older than three years should be discarded because it no longer provides the protection you need.
Sunscreen Isn’t Cheap
The least expensive bottle I saw at my local Publix was $7.79 — and that was on sale. At the nearby Walgreens, the cheapest brand rang up at $8.29.
Is sunscreen made from some rare element I’m unaware of? Maybe its active ingredients are harvested from the highest peak in a remote European valley?
Whatever the reason for the price, it’s worth investing in for protection against sun rays that can seriously damage your skin.
Ways to Cut Costs on Sunscreen
Here are several strategies to save money and get the most value from your sunscreen.
- Higher sun protection factor (SPF) often comes with a bigger price. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with at least SPF 30, which blocks about 97% of the sun’s damaging rays. No product blocks them completely, so you can usually skip ultra-high SPF formulations and save money. Also consider spf 100 if you’re comparing options but remember it’s not necessary for most people.
- If your sunscreen bottle lacks an expiration date, mark the purchase date on the container with a Sharpie so you use older bottles first and avoid letting them sit past their effective life.
- Be sure you’re applying sunscreen properly so you don’t waste product or still get burned. Put it on at least 30 minutes before going outside so it can absorb, and reapply every two hours, or more frequently after swimming or sweating.
- We usually link bulk buying to pantry staples, but warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco often offer multipacks of sunscreen at a lower unit price than single bottles.
- Join apps and services that reward you for shopping to recover a portion of what you spend on sunscreen and other groceries.
- If you have a flexible spending account, sunscreen is often eligible for reimbursement. Retailers such as FSAStore.com and Amazon let you order it online and have it delivered to your home.
Whether you’re headed to the shore, camping, visiting an amusement park, or just tending the garden, don’t forget sun protection. It’s sticky and messy, but your future self will appreciate it.
Disclosure: Cheers to savings! We appreciate being able to include affiliate links in this post.
Emily Hart is a staff writer at Savinly. She practically lives in sunscreen since she spends a lot of time outdoors in sunny Florida.
