Have you ever walked into Target, Walmart, Costco, or another store and found yourself overwhelmed with the amount of sunscreen options?
“Is lotion better than spray bottles?”
“Which SPF do I need?”
“How much sunscreen do I need to buy for a group or family trip?”
If these thoughts race through your mind as you navigate through the seemingly endless sunscreen aisle, you’re not alone. With so many options out there, it can be tough to know what’s best for you and your family.
But don’t let the heat get to you — we’ve got your back! We put together sunscreen resources and tips to keep you and your kids safe from harmful rays when the sun is shining.
How much SPF do I need?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and it measures how well a sunscreen shields your skin and protects you from sunburns. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
There are no downsides to using a sunscreen with a higher SPF, but the positive effects are limited. For example, an SPF 30 sunscreen protects your skin against about 97% of the sun’s rays, while SPF 50 protects against about 98%, and SPF 100, about 99%. No sunscreen can block 100% of the sun’s rays.
People who are particularly prone to sunburn might want to use SPF 100, but most people will be just fine wearing SPF 30.
What if I'm swimming?
If you’re planning to hit the pool or head to a kid-friendly splash pad this summer, sunscreen is a must!
The best way to stay protected in the water is with sunscreen labeled as water resistant. These sunscreens tend to adhere better to skin and provide longer protection. As a bonus, they also provide more protection against sweat.
As a general rule, you want to put sunscreen on 15 – 30 minutes before jumping in the water so your skin has enough time to absorb the sunscreen before it gets wet.
And since sunscreen will eventually wash off after playing in the water, make sure to reapply your sunscreen throughout the day, as no sunscreen is completely waterproof.
What if it's cloudy outside?
You may have heard that when it’s cloudy outside, you don’t need to wear sunscreen because the clouds are blocking the sun’s UV rays. But even when the clouds are covering the sun, the UV rays can still damage your skin. In fact, cloud cover blocks just 20% of the sun’s UV rays, leaving you to absorb the other 80%, which is still a lot!
Ideally, you should wear sunscreen every day, no matter what the weather is like. Most of the sun’s rays can pass through clouds, so it’s important to protect yourself even on mostly cloudy days.
Spray bottles vs. lotion
It’s been a topic of heated debate for years. Which type of sunscreen should I use? Classic lotions or spray bottles?
Both can be great options, and as long as they’re applied correctly, one form isn’t better than the other. However, for kids, lotions tend to work better.
With spray bottles, you run the risk of some of the spray not getting on the actual skin. Depending on how you aim the spray bottle, some of the spray may just go into the air, or even worse, your child could accidentally inhale some of the spray. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), certain spray sunscreens have also been recalled because of benzene contamination.
Lotion can also be helpful specifically for youth because you can visually see how much sunscreen your child is getting, as opposed to some of the potential guesswork with a spray.
But either way, no matter your preference, as long as you apply correctly, spray bottles or lotions are an effective way to protect your skin!
Can I use sunscreen I bought last year?
Most sunscreens have an expiration date on them, so take a look to make sure your sunscreen is not expired because they lose their effectiveness after that date. If your sunscreen doesn’t have an expiration date, you should consider it expired 3 years after you bought it.
If you’re still not sure, you can look for visible signs that your sunscreen may be expired, such as changes in its color or consistency. To keep your sunscreen effective and maintain its quality, don’t leave it in direct sunlight or very hot environments, like the inside of a car.
What else should I consider when buying sunscreen?
Besides SPF, the other thing you should be on the lookout for when buying sunscreen is whether it provides broad spectrum protection. Broad spectrum sunscreen protects you against both types of UV rays from the sun (UVA, which ages your skin, and UVB, which causes sunburns).
The FDA recommends using broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher. Sunscreens with an SPF of less than 15 or without broad spectrum protection do not offer full protection for your skin.
Only SPF 15 sunscreens and higher with broad spectrum protection can say on the label that they decrease the risk of cancer. Other options (like the ones shown below) state they only prevent sunburn, not skin cancer.
What's the best way to apply sunscreen?
The most important thing about applying sunscreen is to make sure you use enough so you don’t miss any spots. For your face, you should use an amount about the size of a quarter. For full body coverage, the average person needs to use about one ounce of sunscreen (about two tablespoons).
Apply your sunscreen 15 – 30 minutes before sun exposure to make sure it has enough time to absorb and work properly.
You should also reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after getting wet.
No matter which sunscreen you choose, just make sure it offers SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum protection, and water resistance. Apply your sunscreen correctly, and you can bask in the sun while maintaining healthy skin all summer long! ☀️
