As effective as sunscreen lotions are at protecting your skin, they can be awkward to use in certain circumstances. You could be attempting to get control of your kids at the park or sitting on a train on the commute to work, with both scenarios making regular sunscreen difficult to apply. In this kind of situation, you’re better off having a sunscreen spray on hand.
Being lightweight, and fuss-free, these products are perfect for those moments when convenience is a must. But here’s the thing: even the best spray sunscreens won’t fully protect you if you don’t use them properly. If it’s a subject you’re not familiar with, stay with us as we give you five tips to help ensure you’re not left vulnerable.
Tip #1 – Shake Your Sunscreen Spray Well Before Using
If your sunscreen spray has been sitting in a bag or your drawer for a month or two, there’s a chance that the product will have separated in the bottle. Giving the bottle a good shake will ensure that all of the sunscreen’s active ingredients and SPF filters are distributed evenly throughout. If you don’t, it might not protect your skin in the way it’s supposed to.
Tip #2 – Apply From the Right Distance
A big mistake that some people make is to spray the product from too far away or too close to the skin. The sweet spot is around 6 to 8 inches from the skin and you’ll know if you’re too close, as the sunscreen you’ve sprayed will build up on the skin. If it’s too windy, you might want to spray it into your hand first before applying it so as to avoid it simply blowing away.
Tip #3 – Never Forget to Rub It In
Whether you’ve sprayed the sunscreen directly onto your skin or applied it with your hand, it’s super important that you rub it in afterwards. It’s a step that ensures you get even coverage – something that’s hard to ascertain just by looking. If you skip this step, you could end up with patchy coverage, particularly in areas like the elbows, knees and ankles.
Tip #4 – Apply Generously and Reapply Every 120 Minutes
One of the most common errors made with spray is not using enough of it. A light mist may feel sufficient, but it often doesn’t provide the SPF protection the label tells you it’s going to provide. Don’t skimp and be sure to reapply every 2 hours as it’s the only approach that will protect you all day long.
Tip #5 – Be Mindful of Where You Spray
Spray sunscreens are designed to be used outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, as the aerosol formula has a habit of lingering in the air and while inhaling this ’mist’ might not hurt you, it’s not recommended and it doesn’t taste great. As such, you should be extremely mindful of where you use it.
Getting Used to Using Sunscreen Spray
Spray sunscreen is an incredibly convenient way to protect yourself when out in direct sunlight, however, you need to be aware of the small adjustments that you need to make in order to get the full benefit from wearing it. As we’ve covered, it’s not difficult. You just need to be in a well-ventilated area before you shake the bottle, spray it from the right distance and be sure to rub it in.
See? That’s the long and short of it. All you have to do is follow these tips and you’ll get full value from this handy product.