So, from a deep dive into headlight restoration I’ve done, this is what I got.

First, the Suns UV rays damages Polycarbonate plastic and must be removed via sanding, with going down to Polishing than Buffing producing the best results
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Maoj8X8mo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuAiUu9KAew

Second, a sealant/coating is applied to increase the longevity, ordered by about how long they last outdoors:

A season (3~6 months)

A year

2~3 years

3~5 years

5 years

  • Clear UV film (PPF) like “3M Scotchgard Clear Paint Protection Film”
  • UV cured hard coat. Requires a UV heat lamp & air paint sprayer

Best video overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG54xt56uZo

Side note: Tail lights will not yellow since they are made from acrylic. Acrylic is brittle and does not have the impact resistance for headlight applications.