How to Select a Spray Sunblock
How to Select a Spray Sunblock. Tanners and sports enthusiasts who are out in the sun know the virtues of spray sunblock. Traditional sunblock needs to be applied with your hands, leaving behind a slick film on your palms. Although they are more convenient, you need to select a spray sunblock that offers the same protection from skin damage as traditional sunblock lotions.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Select a spray sunblock with a high skin protection factor (SPF) to keep out damaging UV rays. Sunblocks with an SPF of 30 or higher provide adequate protection for up to 2 hours in direct sunlight. (Dermatologists caution against anything below SPF 15). Look for SPF ratings accompanied by a mention of UVA and UVB protection (also known as broad-spectrum protection) to get the best value.
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Select spray sunblock if you're shopping for kids' sun protection, as it's much easier to apply than the rub-on variety. Coppertone Continuous Kids Sunblock Spray in SPF 50, Bull Frog Kids Sunblock Spray Fast Blast in SPF 36 and Hawaiian Tropic Baby Faces & Tender Places Sunblock Spray in SPF 50+ are three popular options. Find them online at sites like Revolution Health, Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com (see Resources below).
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Protect the delicate skin of your face by choosing a spray sunblock specifically designed for facial application. Try Kiss My Face Sunblock Spray (SPF 30) or Ti-Screen Sunscreen Spray (SPF 23), which you can find at Dermstore.com (see Resources below).
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Choose a waterproof spray sunblock for use at the beach. Options include Banana Boat Sunblock Spray Quick Dry Sport with SPF 30, Aveeno Sunblock Spray Continuous Protection with SPF 45 and NO-AD Sunscreen Continuous Spray with SPF 30. Look for additional ingredients designed to soothe your skin (for instance, the NO-AD sunscreen includes aloe, while the Aveeno has anti-oxidants and soy proteins).
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Purchase a larger bottle of sunblock to account for errant sprays and dissipation. A full-sized spray bottle is ideal for an entire summer of protecting your skin from the sun.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that sunblock isn't foolproof. It is typically recommended that you re-apply spray sunblock every few hours. Although some sunblocks are waterproof, you may need to re-apply them after an extended swim.
