4 common mistakes you might be making when applying sunscreen

On my website, I have written several blog posts about the importance of using a sunscreen every day. Long story short, UVA and UVB from sunlight are capable of destroying the collagen and elastin in your skin cell without proper protection. This will result in early signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin. No one wants such things, ugh! 

Using sunscreen every day is a great start. The next step for a fully protected skin is checking if you’re making any of these sunscreen mistakes and fix them today!

Mistake #1: Using foundation as a replacement for sunscreen

Although there are lots of foundations or BB creams with SPF 15 or 30, dermatologists still advise us to use a separate sunscreen product. Especially in summer with strong sunlight, using sunscreen with the SPF 30 – 50 is a must to protect your skin. The recommended amount of sunscreen to use is half a spoon for the face and neck. I also usually wait for the sunscreen to set completely before applying my make-up. Be sure to apply sunscreen 15-20 minutes before you go out. 

Mistake #2: Sunscreen is all the sun protection I need

A common assumption is once we have our sunscreen on, we are completely safe under the sun. Although sunscreen really is an MVP in the battle against sunlight, it is still not enough. Whenever I have to stay under the sun for a long period of time, I always make sure to do the following things:

• Find a good shade to stand in, especially during the highest UV exposure during the day (from 10 AM to 4 PM). If there is no shade, remember to bring an umbrella.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat to avoid direct sun exposure on your face. Exposing your face in the sun for a long time can enlarge your pores and dry up your skin. Do you notice a wide-brimmed hat is the favorite item of the actresses in K-drama? That could be a factor contributing to their flawless skin.
• When you play sports outdoor, remember to wear a long-sleeve top and pants to avoid reapplying sunscreen too many times.

Mistake #3: Don’t reapply sunscreen 

I made this mistake for a long time in the past. I used to apply sunscreen once in the morning and never re-apply for the whole day. But now I always have sunscreen in my bag. How often you need to reapply sunscreen depends on the type of sunscreen. For me, I usually reapply sunscreen every 1-2 hours when I go out, especially on the face, neck, and arm areas. If you are wearing makeup, applying another layer of BB cream or cushion with SPF is also a great choice. And when you go to the beach, you even have to re-apply sunscreen more frequently to avoid sunburn and the risk of skin cancer. 

Mistake #4: Not applying enough sunscreen 

I know this is a controversial topic: how much is enough? According to researches, the right amount of sunscreen for the whole body is around 25-30ml. A spray sunscreen also makes it easier to fully apply onto your body. When you go to the beach or ride a motorbike under the sun, don’t forget to apply sunscreen on your ears, nape of the neck, and your toes too!

With these tips on using sunscreen, I wish you gorgeous and healthy skin this summer!