The sun is the most beautiful of all the planets.
But when it comes to protecting yourself against the sun’s harmful rays, there are some very basic rules.
1.
The best sunscreen will never be enoughWhen it comes time to purchase sunscreen, make sure to buy the sunscreen that’s right for you.
“It doesn’t matter how good the sunscreen is,” says Lisa Stebbins, a dermatologist at St. Vincent Hospital in New York City.
“It only matters that it works for you and you’re using it.”
If you want to stay protected against sunburn, don’t buy sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of more than 50.
And make sure you use the sunscreen with a UV filter, such as a UV-B filter.
2.
Get the right sunscreen formulaSunscreens with a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 50 to 70 won’t work.
They may work well for some people, but not for others.
“The formula doesn’t need to be as good as the SPF.
If you’re a guy who likes a sunburn-resistant sunscreen, then you might want to go for something that has the same SPF as the sunblock.”
Sunscents that contain titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanium dioxide oxide (Ti 2 O 3 ) aren’t as effective as those that contain zinc oxide (ZnO), which are the same as titanium dioxide.
3.
Apply sunscreen at least twice a dayIf you’re going to spend your entire day outdoors, apply sunscreen at the end of your day, when it’s less humid.
If it’s cloudy, you may want to apply it at night.
And if you want your skin to stay at a natural tan, apply it in the morning or at dusk.
“I don’t recommend you apply sunscreen on your back, because it’ll burn you,” says Stebbos.
“I recommend you get it on your arms and on your face.”
“It’ll be a little thicker than your arm, but you can use it,” agrees Stebbs.
“And if you use it on a hot day, you’ll get a nice sunburn.”4.
Keep sunscreen in a containerKeep sunscreen in your purse, backpack, briefcase or whatever it is you’re carrying around.
The container should be able to hold the sunscreen.
Don’t leave sunscreen in the sun for more than two minutes at a time.
“You don’t want it to be sitting in a sunflower or cotton candy container,” says Dr. Stebba.
“So you want it as close to the sun as possible.”5.
Use a sunscreen brush or gelWhen applying sunscreen, keep the brush and the gel on the same side of your face.
Don’t put the sunscreen brush on the back of your head.
“That’ll burn your eyes, and it will make you look like you have a sun burn,” says Blaesch.
6.
Stay hydratedBefore you apply your sunscreen, hydrate yourself by using a water-based moisturizer.
Use moisturizer with a SPF of less than 30, or a SPOF of 50 or higher.
“If you don’t use sunscreen properly,” says Strub, “the sun will get into your pores, and you’ll develop a burn.”
“If I were you, I would be using sunscreen to protect my skin,” says Schaeffer.
“If you are, use sunscreen with your face to protect your skin.
It will help your skin look healthy and not look like it’s burning.”
If the sunburn you’re having is getting worse, you should use some form of sunscreen to stop it from getting worse.
7.
Avoid sunscreens that contain ingredients that cause skin irritationThe sunscents you use will affect your skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun.
“When you’re wearing sunscreen, your skin is working overtime to protect the skin,” explains Dr. Strub.
“Even though you’re protecting your skin, you’re also increasing the chances of getting sunburn.
So you want sunscreen that doesn’t cause irritation to your skin.””
A lot of people use sunscreen to control the sun,” says Mr. Schaeffer.
“But they should only use sunscreen on their back, and only apply it to areas that are not hot or humid.”
“When it’s raining outside, you want a sunscreen that covers your face,” says Ms. Stemps.
“This way, you won’t be able see your face or the sun will not be getting into your face and burning your eyes.”
8.
Keep sunblock in a bottleWhen applying a sunscreen, always get the sunscreen in its bottle.
If the bottle doesn’t have a lid, you don�t need to use sunscreen.
However, you do want to avoid using a sunscreen on the bottle because it could burn your skin and leave you with sunburn or even sun damage