Wear Sunscreen the Right Way

How to wear sunscreen properly to get the maximum protection |


Believe it or not, most people do not use sunscreen the right way and aren’t even aware of it! If you don't wear sunscreen correctly (even if you have a good sunscreen), you reduce its effectiveness and ability to guard you against the sun.

The following steps will help you learn how to wear sunscreen the right way for maximum sun protection. So, to keep your skin young and healthy, make sure you are doing all of these things:


  1. Sunscreen goes on after moisturizer and other skin treatments (wait 30 minutes) but before makeup. If you don't wear any makeup, sunscreen should be the last thing you put on your skin. Some people argue that sunscreen works best on bare skin (that way it can bond with the skin and offer better protection), but that’s not very necessary in my opinion. When sunscreen is the outermost layer, it forms a nice shield against UV rays. Whatever you do, do not mix sunscreen with your moisturizer because that could ruin the effectiveness of the sunscreen's formulation.

  2. If you are using a chemical sunscreen, it's best to wait 30 minutes after applying before going outside so the filters have time to soak into your skin and form a protective layer. You don't have to wait for all-physical sunscreens, but it's generally a good idea to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before sun exposure.

  3. Apply 1/4 teaspoon of sunscreen on your whole face to ensure adequate coverage (1/4 teaspoon is about the size of a nickel). For your face and neck, 1/2 teaspoon will suffice. This may seem like a lot of sunscreen, but if you don't apply the proper amount, you won't have a thick enough layer of sunscreen on your skin for adequate protection.

  4. Pat on sunscreen instead of rubbing it in. This will reduce irritation and also ensure that the sunscreen is applied evenly all over.

  5. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially if it is an unstable sunscreen. You may or may not have to reapply a sunscreen that is stable, but it is best to do so if you are outdoors for long hours, sweat a lot, or go swimming. I also like to reapply my sunscreen after using paper blotters because the oils on my face can cause some sunscreen to be removed during blotting sessions. At any rate, follow the instructions that come with your sunscreen to get a better idea of how often it should be reapplied.


Besides applying sunscreen properly, it is also important to keep these things in mind:


  1. Wear sunscreen every day, even on rainy days or on days you stay indoors, because UV rays still penetrate through clouds and windows. People think that you only need to wear sunscreen when it's sunny, but UV rays are present regardless of whether you see the sun or not.

  2. Wear sunscreen every day, especially if you use exfoliating products (ex. prescription retinoids, glycolic acid) and/or if you’re taking antibiotics because all of these products can cause photosensitivity. My friend’s mom didn’t stay out of the sun and didn’t wear sunscreen when she was on antibiotics and ended up getting white blotches on her chest that are still there today. So be careful!

  3. Virtually all UV filters are oil soluble, which means they are not removed by water. To completely remove sunscreen, it’s best to use an oil-based cleanser (milky/cream type cleansers or cleansing oils).

  4. Just like how you should wash off any makeup before going to bed, you should remove sunscreen before going to sleep. This will prevent any unnecessary irritation and clogged pores that the sunscreen may cause.

  5. Wear sunscreen not only on your face, but also on your neck (including the back of the neck) and hands (places that show signs of aging the fastest). I think it's also a good idea to wear sunscreen on any bare body parts that will be exposed to the sun, such as your ears, lips, hairline, top of the head if bald, balding, or shaved, and top of your feet (especially if you want to avoid flip flop tan lines).

  6. Water-resistant doesn't mean water-proof. Most sunscreens that are water-resistant will stay on your skin even if your skin gets wet (from swimming or from sweat), but that doesn't mean you no longer have to reapply the sunscreen. Sunscreens that claim to be water-proof must be reapplied because the oils on your skin can strip your skin of the sunscreen even if your skin doesn't get wet.

For more questions or concerns about sunscreen, check out the Skin FAQ.



Last updated: January 20, 2011


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