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I know, I know: You hear this all the time. But the mantra actually does come rooted in some necessity. Having a desk near a window at work and walking home from the office and soaking up that end-of-May sun may sound glorious, but it’s also exposing you to more sun throughout the day. Not to mention sitting in traffic -- you literally can’t escape those rays.
Sounds like a lot, and you can get away with less if you’re just doing exposed areas for everyday use, but poolside? Get measuring. (And maybe make some margaritas while you’re at it.)
At least every two hours and more if you’re swimming or sweating. Of course, you’re not going to hit the office bathroom four times a day to lather up your sunscreen, but just be mindful.
There isn’t a considerable difference between SPF 30 and 50 (though always go higher if you’re paler-skinned or have problem skin), but there’s no point going lower than 30 -- you’ll get your hands all greasy and probably just end up with a burn, anyway.
More often than not, whenever I’m shocked at a sunburn raging across my skin, it’s because I accidentally used expired sunscreen. The good stuff can get expensive, so it’s natural that you’d want to use every drop before replacing it, but heed the warning that it’s effectiveness will wear off the older it gets.
Sure, your SPF 30 foundation that you use every day on your face is giving you decent coverage, but do you apply it anywhere else? Mmmm, likely not. Experts suggest investing in an SPF moisturizer that you can apply everywhere before going in with your contouring brushes.
They’re not a convenience. The properties of sunblock and insect repellant are different for a reason; you shouldn’t be combining them unless you want a half-*ss job from each. Start with a base coat of sunscreen and put your bug spray on top of it.
UV rays penetrate clouds! Easily! Even if you’re not spending much time outside when there’s significant cloud cover, you’re still prone to absorbing UV rays.
What about your lips? Or your eyes? The sun can be harmful to these areas of your body on top of your skin. Grab an SPF lip balm and make sure the lenses in your sunglasses are actually UV-protectant.
While this can be more of a preference thing, depending on the sensitivity of your skin, brands like Neutrogena make face-specific sunscreen that’s gentler on your more delicate skin and easier on your eyes.
The sun is literally absorbing moisture from your body (duh, that’s what it does), which is why hydrating and moisturizing sun lotions are increasingly popular. On top of drinking lots of water and tapping into an after-sun lotion (hello, aloe vera), consider topping off your beach day with a good moisturizing sesh.
Eyelids, feet, wrists, ears -- have you ever applied sunscreen in these spots? I’m currently rocking the weirdest tan lines on the tops of my feet, so no judgment. We’ll all work to do better.