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Question: How much sunscreen do I need to apply?

Answer:

I used to use just a tiny amount of sunscreen for my face because...good sunscreens are expensive and I wanted the sunscreen to last as long as possible! Little did I know that not using enough sunscreen pretty much left me unprotected (or, not as protected) from the sun.

The rule of thumb is 1/4^th teaspoon of sunscreen for your whole face and 1/2 teaspoon for both your face and neck. This may seem like a lot, but you need 1/4^th teaspoon in order for the sunscreen to form a protective layer and do its job. I believe this is also the amount that is used to determine SPF and PPD values. So, if you're not wearing enough sunscreen, it won't measure up to its purported protection.

You can physically measure 1/4^th teaspoon with a measuring spoon, but I tend to just eyeball it. If it helps, 1/4^th teaspoon is approximately the size of a nickel.

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