Does Sunscreen Have an Expiry Date?

July 18, 2023 · News

If you’re considering adding a sunscreen to your product range, it’s important to understand what to expect in terms of product expiry dates.

Not only do you need to ensure the sunscreen is safe and effective for consumers to use, but it’s also valuable to have an understanding of the commercial shelf life of your products and the regulatory compliance requirements the product needs to satisfy.

In this article, we’ll discuss the type of shelf life you can expect your sunscreen products to have and how to calculate the expiry dates your products need to be labelled with.

How long do sunscreens last?

You can generally expect sunscreens to have a shelf life of around 2 to 3 years.

In Australia, primary sunscreens are considered to be a therapeutic good and are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA requires all sunscreen products sold in Australia to display an expiry date on the packaging, which can generally be found in an easily identifiable location such as on the crimp of the tube or on the bottom of the bottle.

Once a sunscreen exceeds its specified expiry date, it should be discarded. This is because, over time, the ingredients contained in sunscreen can separate, resulting in the inconsistent application of the active ingredients which provide ultraviolet (UV) protection, jeopardising the effectiveness of the sunscreen.

Sunscreens also need to be stored according to the recommended conditions (e.g. store below 30°C) to ensure they maintain their efficacy for the duration of their advertised shelf life.

What testing do sunscreens need to undergo to verify their shelf life?

The TGA requires sunscreens to have undergone adequate stability testing which verifies the shelf life of the product. The stability testing process is what will ultimately determine the expiry dates that need to be displayed on products.

Stability testing typically involves using batches or samples of the sunscreen formulation which are stored according to TGA guidelines. The samples undergo testing at various time intervals to ensure the physical, chemical and microbiological properties of the sunscreen will remain stable for the specified length of time.

The most widely accepted approach is testing a sunscreen to verify a shelf life of 2 or 3 years.

Our sunscreen stability testing process

When you choose to manufacture a sunscreen with Wild Child, we’ll take care of the stability testing process so you’ll have complete confidence that your product will meet its claims about shelf life and satisfy all relevant regulatory requirements.

Our rigorous sunscreen stability testing procedures include:

physical testing of the product’s appearance, emulsion stability, crystallisation, odour, viscosity and compatibility with the proposed packaging
chemical testing of the product’s pH and active ingredients, and
microbiological testing of the product.

Alternatively, if you need to get your new sunscreen product to market within a tight time frame, our private labelling service could be the ideal solution. Using one of our pre-developed and tested sunscreen formulations, you can bypass much of the product development phase and get your new sunscreen product to market sooner.

Find out more about sunscreen manufacturing with Wild Child or contact us for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, our minimum order quantities (MOQs) are a function of the calibrated weights of our mixing vessel and the capacity of our filling lines. Depending on the unit size of the final product the MOQ will typically be around 10,000 units.

We do not have a product catalogue. Products will be suggested by our Product Development team based on the information you provide through the new product enquiry form.

Yes, with a better understanding of your product requirements we will develop a lab sample(s) for your review and ultimate approval. Depending on level of customisation or development required, this service may incur a fee.

Typically, 12 – 14 weeks from the placement of purchase order and payment of the deposit. Please note, the manufacturing lead time is dependent on the availability of the raw materials and packaging components, which can be confirmed prior to the placement of your order.

No, all our pricing is EX WORKS. Whilst we do not provide freight and distribution services, we can assist with the freight quotation and booking from our Facility.

Upon placement of purchase order, a 50% deposit is required, and balance is due prior to the release of the finished goods.

Yes, we can provide packaging options based on formulation compatibility and compliance standards. Alternatively, clients can provide their own packaging with the understanding that it must be compatible with our equipment and meet compliance standards.