Wear Sunscreen

Getting The Most Out of Sunscreen

So when and where should we wear sunscreen?

Sunscreen shouldn't just be worn at the beach or on the ski slopes, but whenever and wherever there are intense levels of UV light. Regardless if that UV light is directly from the sun, reflected off buildings, or reflected off the water – it's important to be protected.

Did you know that up to 80% of harmful UV light can penetrate cloud cover, and more than 50% can penetrate water?

Manufactures recommend covering your entire body in sunscreen because even clothing doesn't provide adequate protection. A tee shirt for example may only provide 6 to 8 SPF depending on it's fabric. The best way to use sunscreen is to lather it on liberally 30 minutes before exposure, then reapply every 1 to 2 hours depending on the lotion. As well you may consider covering your scalp, ears, face, and the back of the neck with a higher SPF as these are especially delicate. I learned the hard way that even hair spray sunscreen is very important.

Sunscreen has a short shelf life. It's important to purchase new sunscreen regularly because any lotion over a year old will likely have a lower SPF, as it's effectiveness decreases over time. However, if you hate to see things go to waste then be sure to give the bottle a good shake before you use it. This ensures the active ingredients are mixed throughout the lotion in case they settled to the bottom over time. But don't forget the effective SPF may be much lower than is claimed on the bottle – you don't want a sunburn!