Be liberal with your sunscreen. According to Cancer Research UK, people don’t apply as much sunscreen as they need to. If you don’t apply enough, you won’t get the protection that is claimed on the bottle. Make sure you cover all exposed skin, including the tops of feet, ears and the back of the neck.
Source: Sun protection for eyes and skin @ NHS Choices
Video
Read more
- Proper Use of Sunscreen @ About.com Dermatology
Excerpt: Most people use sunscreen improperly by not applying enough. They apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount. Sunscreen should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas that it forms a film when initially applied. It takes 20-30 minutes for sunscreen to be absorbed by the skin, so it should be applied at least a half an hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should also be the last product applied especially on the face since some sunscreens can break down in the presence of water contained in water-based foundations and moisturisers.
- Sunscreens Explained @ Skin Cancer Foundation
Excerpt: To ensure that you get the full SPF of a sunscreen, you need to apply 1 oz – about a shot glass full. Studies show that most people apply only half to a quarter of that amount, which means the actual SPF they have on their body is lower than advertised. During a long day at the beach, one person should use around one half to one quarter of an 8 oz. bottle. Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow the ingredients to fully bind to the skin. Reapplication of sunscreen is just as important as putting it on in the first place, so reapply the same amount every two hours. Sunscreens should also be reapplied immediately after swimming, toweling off, or sweating a great deal.
image: maialen protection search - CC by-sa - Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería