It happens all the time. You slather sunscreen all over, head outside, and still end up getting burned. Applying sunscreen may seem like an easy task, but these mistakes are all too common, and we’re here to help you correct them.
You Apply Too Late
We’ve all been there…you’re juggling the kids, packing the cooler, and gathering the beach chairs. You finally get out the door and realize no one has sunscreen on, so you begin applying as soon as you hit the beach. Unfortunately, you’re already late to the sun protection game. Before you leave the house, sunscreen should be applied so it has time to soak in and block harmful rays effectively. Not only is that the rule, but it’s also a life hack in a way. Think about it…if you apply sunscreen before you even put your swimsuit on, you’ll feel confident knowing you are fully protected. It’s easy to miss spots if you apply sunscreen once your bathing suit is on because the suit can shift. So do yourself a favor and apply liberally indoors before your toes are in the sand.
You Aren’t Using Enough
You did it right…you purchased a broad spectrum of 30 SPF or higher that is waterproof and you’re ready to hit the beach. You think to yourself because it’s a high SPF value, you don’t have to apply as much. Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. If you don’t apply enough, you’re getting about half of the SPF value on the label. Ouch. One major reason people aren’t applying enough these days is that they’re using a spray sunscreen. While these types of sunscreen may be looked at as convenient, they greatly increase your risk of under-application because you aren’t able to truly measure how much is being applied to your skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a shot glass full (about 1 ounce) of sunscreen per application, which means that during a long day at the beach, you should use around half of an 8 oz. bottle. In other words, if you aren’t replacing your sunscreen bottles several times over the summer, you aren’t applying enough.
You Aren’t Reapplying On Time
Between surfing, building sand castles, collecting sea shells, and playing paddle ball, it’s easy to lose track of time, but reapplying is critical. Sunscreen should be reapplied about every hour. That may seem like a lot, but sunscreens are made to protect for only a certain amount of time, and sometimes it’s even less than the label promises. Not to mention most of us aren’t applying enough in the first place, which makes reapplying extra important. Even water resistant sunscreens require frequent reapplication, so keep track of time, and when in doubt, slather more on.
You Forget Important Spots
It’s easy to neglect spots like your ears, hands, and lips, but they need protection too! Not just on beach days, but all year round. Have you ever heard the saying that you can always tell a person’s age by looking at their hands? Well, there’s a reason for that. When applying sunscreen we often forget about a very important part of our body…the part that is actually doing the applying! Another critical spot we often forget is our feet. While applying sunscreen to your legs, be sure to keep going and apply to your feet and in between your toes. And last but not least, don’t forget to pucker up. You most likely already apply some sort of product to your lips, so why not use one with SPF?! Be sure to show these spots some love and they’ll show you some right back.
You Think All Sunscreen Is The Same
We cannot stress this enough. Don’t wait until you’re about to spend a day in the sun to head to the store and pick up whatever sunscreen is on sale. But with so many options, it’s typically easier to just grab one and go, but we encourage you to do your research and find a sunscreen that really, truly works. A recent study found that nearly half of top-rated sunscreens aren’t effective. Not only that, but the Environmental Working Group recently listed 14 popular children’s sunscreens that were found to work poorly. It’s scary to think how many children are spending hours in the sun without proper protection. So…what are your options? While the EWG has rated so many popular sunscreens as ineffective, they also state that mineral sunscreens tend to rate better than chemical sunscreens. This is because most mineral based sunscreens are made naturally with physical UV blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. In addition, they cause less skin irritation than sunscreens packed with chemicals and Zinc oxide is the only active sunscreen ingredient approved for use on children by the FDA. This is why we are so proud of our formula. You’ll only find natural ingredients in our sun protection products and absolutely zero chemicals.
Leave a Comment