How to Apply Sunscreen

So we know that it is important to wear sunscreen, by does applying it correctly matter? Simply put, even the best sun cream applied incorrectly will leave areas of your skin exposed to the sun and harmful UV light. Applying sunscreen correctly means fully covering all areas of your skin that may be exposed and reapplying as often as necessary to maintain a safe level of UV protection.

This guide will support you on how much sunscreen to apply, how to apply sunscreen to your own back, how to apply sunscreen to your face and how often you should reapply sunscreen to stay safe in the sun and keep your skin happy.

It is very common for people to not apply enough sunscreen, which can lead to odd and uneven tanning as well as unwanted skin damage. The technical answer of how much sunscreen to apply is approximately 2 milligrams per square centimetre of skin, this will ensure you are getting the SPF indicated on the bottle of your sunscreen.

In reality, we know most people aren't going to measure milligrams per centimetre of skin so as best practice try to use at least 2 tablespoons, or a shot glass full amount of sunscreen to cover exposed areas of skin. For your face alone you should be using a squirt of sunscreen around the size of a 10p coin.

If you are using a spray on sunscreen, such as NIVEA Protect & Dry Touch Invisible Sun Spray SPF 50, as opposed to a cream, ensure you are applying to the point you have an even glaze all over your skin

Just like you need sun cream for your face, you need sun cream for your back to keep it safe from sun exposure. The best way to do this is to obviously have a caring partner, friend or relative apply it for you, that way they can see what they are doing and ensure an even coverage. But how do you apply sunscreen to your own back without any help?

Unfortunately there is no easy solution to this, least of all because you cannot actually see your own back to ensure an adequate level of coverage. Short of contorting in front of the mirror to rub sunscreen into those hard to reach spots, here are a 2 other unconventional methods to apply sunscreen to your own back:

1. Using a flannel wrapped around a spatula or wooden spoon (or anything with a long handle!). Wrap the flannel around the head of your chosen utensil and then dab the sunscreen onto it. Then use the utensil like a back scratcher to rub the sunscreen over your back.
2. Using cling film. Spread out a good length of cling film and dollop the sunscreen in the middle. Next perform a similar action you would as if you were drying your back with a towel, rubbing the sunscreen coated cling film over your back to apply.

Alternatively to these rather taxing methods of how to apply sunscreen to your own back, you could use a sunscreen that comes in the form of a mist spray. A mist spray sunscreen does not require rubbing in and is much more convenient to apply to hard-to-reach areas than a traditional cream.

Why not try our NIVEA Protect & Dry Touch Refreshing Sun Mist SPF50? This non-greasy sunscreen spray mist is sprayable from any angle, up-side-down and is quickly absorbed by skin so you can spray it onto your own back for reliable UV protection.

Getting your kids to sit still for long enough for your to apply their sunscreen can be quite the task! Most kids are very eager to get off and play, which can make it tricky to apply their sunscreen. Luckily we have a wide selection of spray and roll on suncreams which can make this task a little easier for you!

Using a roll on suncream like NIVEA Kids Protect & Care Roll-On Sunscreen SPF 50+ allows you to easily cover your little ones vulnerable skin in reliable UV protection so they can be safe from sun exposure. What's more this roll on suncream for kids is only 50ml so neatly fits into your handbag, allowing you to conveniently keep it with you on the go.

A lot of us are very good at applying our sunscreen when we first venture out into the sun, but how many of us consistently top up our protection throughout the day? It is very common for sun damage to occur later in the day, when the protectiveness of your original application begins to fade, or after you have had a swim in the sea or pool.

Without the proper protection you expose your skin to damage, as well as sun induced ageing - such as wrinkles and dark spots. So it is worth applying and reapplying your sunscreen correctly and consistently.

1. Apply sunscreen every day that you will be exposing your skin to the sun. And remember it does not have to be a particularly sunny day for the sun to be strong and cause damage!
2. Apply your sunscreen 20-30 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun. This ensures that your skin has had time to absorb the cream and be protected.
3. Reapply immediately after any excess sweating - if you have been playing sports and working up a sweat on the beach, this can cause your protection to wear off, so be sure to reapply your sunscreen after sweaty activities.
4. Reapply immediately after swimming or any water activities. Although NIVEA sunscreens offer extra water resistance, no sunscreen is 100% waterproof so be sure to reapply your sunscreen immediately after getting out of the water. Do not worry about our sunscreen affecting the oceans where you are swimming though, as all NIVEA sunscreen is certified as reef safe sunscreen.