Applying sunscreen — whether the sun is out or not — is the most important step in anyone’s skin care\u00a0routine. If you don’t wear it,\u00a0you run the risk of short-term and long-term effects like sunburn and skin cancer.\u00a0That’s why it’s crucial\u00a0to be as proactive as\u00a0when protecting your skin.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there are quite a few mistakes\u00a0people make when layering on the SPF. Ahead are common errors to\u00a0avoid so you can get the most out of your sunblock.<\/p>\n
Wearing the wrong SPF<\/strong> Letting your sunscreen expire<\/strong> Forgetting to reapply after sweating or touching water<\/strong> Only applying it on \u201csunny days\u201d<\/strong> Not applying the right amount<\/strong> Neglecting to seek other protection from the sun<\/strong> xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"Applying sunscreen -- whether the sun is out or not -- is the most important ...","author":7532780,"featured_media":105710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6,275],"tags":[],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/28102409\/sunscreen-660x400.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/28102409\/sunscreen-e1498670655901.jpg","formated_date":"June 28, 2017","category_name":"Beauty","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113828\/beauty-1.svg","author_name":"Stephanie Taylor","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#a7e837","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105708"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7532780"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105708"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105708\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe sun protection factor (SPF) indicates how well your sunscreen will shield\u00a0you from the sun\u2019s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Experts recommend an SPF of at least 30, which blocks out about 96 percent<\/a> of UVB rays — and SPF 50 blocks about 98 percent of UVB rays. One of our favorite sunscreens is the\u00a0Eau Thermale Av\u00e8ne Ultra-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+<\/a> (featured in the FabFitFun Summer Box<\/a>). This powerful antioxidant protection is perfect for sensitive skin and provides long-lasting hydration. Plus, it has a matte finish — making it great to apply under makeup!<\/p>\n
\nDon’t disregard a sunscreen’s expiration date. Once the active ingredients in sunscreen expire, it’s no longer effective<\/a>. The change in consistency<\/a> is a good indication that it may be time to toss the\u00a0bottle.\u00a0Also, pay to attention to the storage instructions<\/a> on the bottle because high temperatures can tamper with the effectiveness as well.<\/p>\n
\nThe words \u201cwater resistant\u201d don\u2019t exempt you from the golden rule of sunscreen: reapply, reapply, reapply. The words \u201cwaterproof\u201d or \u201csweatproof\u201d have actually been banned by the FDA<\/a> because in actuality, they’re only\u00a0\u201cwater resistant\u201d for 40 to 80 minutes.<\/p>\n
\nSunscreen is not<\/em>\u00a0for just summer\u00a0days. Make applying SPF a part of your daily<\/a> skin care routine because the UV rays from the sun are always present (even on a gloomy day). Luckily, sunscreen comes in a variety of forms so you don’t always have to slather a cream on your face. Choose from powders, sprays, gels, or anything that suits your skin best.<\/p>\n
\nMost people underestimate how much sunscreen they should use, but there\u2019s no such thing as applying too much sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology<\/a>, most people need at least an ounce of sunscreen, or enough to fill a shot glass to cover the entire body. Just remember this rule of thumb: the more the better.<\/p>\n
\nSunscreen often gives people the false idea that they’re safe from the sun.\u00a0Don’t rely solely on SPF and always seek shade when possible. You should also wear protective clothing if you plan on being out in the sun for long periods of time. Keep in mind that applying sunscreen should only be a part of your sun protection regime<\/a>.<\/p>\n