The sun is shining and that means we need to apply sunscreen extra well again. I must honestly admit that I don't always follow the advice of all the skin gurus very well and usually only apply SPF on sunny days. Of course, we should do this every day, because those stubborn UV rays are present all year round, whether it's warm or cold. But anyway, if you (like me) want to bring out your sunscreen again, pay close attention to the expiration date. I have never actually wondered how long sunscreen is valid, but someone recently pointed out to me how to best check that. It is very important to check this regularly, because after this date the sunscreen works much less and we certainly don't want that.

I found this tip to be a real life hack, because I never see a clear expiration date on my sunscreen. What turns out? You need to look for a small image of an opened jar with a number and a letter on it. Once you find this symbol, it's actually very simple. Does your sunscreen say ‘12M’? Then it is valid for twelve months after opening. Some products are valid for six or eight months, so check this carefully before you take them with you on vacation for the third time, for example. The ultimate life hack is of course to stick a label with the purchase date on it, because I really wouldn't know off the top of my head how long I've had such a bottle of sunscreen.

Last but not least: the expiration date is only correct if you store the sunscreen in a cool and dark place. You’re welcome!