How much sunscreen should you use?

How much sunscreen should you use on your body?

One ounce is a useful full body guide, although whole body estimates also reach 1.5 ounces. Treat the amount as a guide to generous coverage, not a quota to divide between exposed areas until nothing is left. Cover every area that clothing leaves exposed, including your neck, the backs of your hands and the tops of your feet. Check around clothing straps and edges, where coverage is easy to miss.34

How much sunscreen should you use on your face?

Face amount guides range from a nickel sized dollop to a teaspoonful. The practical priority is a generous layer across the whole face, with coverage for your ears and neck too. Do not overlook your eyelids: sunglasses are the best way to protect them, with an SPF eye cream, sunscreen stick or mineral sunscreen as options for skin coverage. Use SPF lip balm on your lips and reapply after eating or drinking.2356

Sunscreen belongs under makeup, even if the foundation would prefer top billing. A facial moisturizer with sunscreen can fit into your morning routine, but the face still needs adequate coverage and repeat applications during outdoor exposure.234

Why does the amount matter?

SPF, or sun protection factor, is measured with sunscreen applied at 2 milligrams per square centimetre of skin. A thin application gives less protection than the advertised SPF. Choose broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB, the two types of ultraviolet rays, with SPF 30 or higher. For extended outdoor time, choose a water resistant formula with SPF 50 or higher rather than relying on a higher number to compensate for using too little.2347

Pick a format you like using, but keep generous coverage and regular reapplication as the requirements, whichever bottle you choose.2

How should you apply and reapply sunscreen?

1. 1Apply sunscreen to dry skin before going outdoors. Allow 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, rather than waiting until you are already outside and sweating.
2. 2Spread a generous layer across all exposed areas. Include your scalp where hair is thin or parted, unless you protect it with a hat.
3. 3Reapply every two hours while outdoors, including products labelled "all day".
4. 4Reapply after swimming, sweating or towel drying. After swimming, apply again when you get out of the water.

Water resistant does not mean waterproof. Water resistant sunscreens typically offer 40 or 80 minutes of protection in water, so check your bottle's stated duration. A morning application is not enough for a long day outdoors: with reapplication, expect to use about a four ounce bottle over that day.2

Does a short or cloudy outing need sunscreen?

Apply sunscreen when heading outdoors, even for a short outing. Twenty minutes still counts as sun exposure, and cool or cloudy weather does not remove ultraviolet exposure. Sunscreen is only one part of protection: seek shade and cover up with closely woven clothing, a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses. No sunscreen blocks every ultraviolet ray, so applying enough is not a reason to extend your time in the sun.1456