Three signs your self tan is past its expiry

As the days get colder and the opportunities to get out in the sun slowly fade away, Melanie Brownlow, founder of St. Moriz, shares insight on how to tell if a self tanning product has expired and why you should never use expired tanning products.

Melanie explains the main signs to look out for to tell if self tan is out of date, and whether it differs between product types.

“All beauty products have a shelf life, and self tanning products are no exception so it’s important to know the tell-tale signs of an out-of-date product. The main indications that the product is close to expiry are discolouration and a change in smell, but this also differs between different product types.

Discolouration

“For example, it is often easier to spot discoloration of white lotions - such as a gradual tan - compared to a classic tinted mousse. However, with an expired mousse, you may notice it starts to appear slightly green. This is usually the result of prolonged exposure to air, causing it to oxidise over time.”

Malodour

“Interestingly, a change in scent will also depend on the product. Malodour would be noticed more so in products containing higher levels of DHA compared to those with a lower level of active ingredients. In other words, a dark tanning mousse will have a more noticeable change in smell compared to a lighter shade or gradual product.”

Temperature

“You should always store your self tan in a cool, dark place. This means avoiding popular areas such as bathrooms, which become humid, and windowsills. If you keep your products in warm and bright spots, the six months shelf life after opening significantly reduces as the active ingredient will be impacted. So to get the best results from your tanning mousses and lotions, always store in a cool place away from direct sunlight.”

Melanie adds that self tanning products will generally have a shelf life of six months following the period of opening.

“As a general rule, self tanning products have a shelf life of six months following the PAO (period of opening). After six months, you may notice your products becoming less effective as the active ingredients become compromised. As for an unopened product, they should last up to three years if stored correctly. As long as you keep your self-tanning products out of direct sunlight and ideally not in the bathroom where temperature rises and falls, your unopened products will last, allowing you to keep a healthy back-up stock.”

For more information please visit: https://www.stmoriz.com/