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Step 1
First, buy the correct sunscreen. Follow this link to an informative article on ingredients and types. (http://www.ehow.com/how_4858277_select-buy-sunscreen-suntan-lotion.html
Bottom line, buy one that both UVA and UVB light. Look for UVA protection on the front of the bottle, if you do not see it, assume it is UVB protection only. One of the best rated products for this is the Neutrogena product line that contains Helioplex. -
Step 2
Always apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before you enter into the sun. It takes 20-30 minutes for the ingredients to start to work. Thus if you wait until you get to the beach, set up the umbrella, put down the towels and chairs and then start putting on sunscreen it will be another half an hour before you are getting any protection. By now, you are already burned on your first day of vacation. Avoid the uncomfortable feel by applying half an hour BEFORE you go to the beach or outdorrs. You will enhance your entire vacation experience.
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Step 3
If you find yourself in the sun unexpectantly, such as someone takes you to lunch in an ourdoor restraunt. Make sure you have a sunscreen with you that does not require a 20-30 minute time frame to start working. This is a sunscreen with the two ingredients that serve as the closest thing to a sunblock that there is. The name of these ingredients are: Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide. In fact Zinc Oxide blocks UVA1, UVA2 and UVB rays. Remember the beach lifeguards with the thick white zinc coating on their nose? This is the same ingredient, new formulation into an easily applied sunscreen.
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Step 4
When doing sports in water or hanging out at the pool, remember there is no such thing as a water*proof* sunscreen, but you can look for water *resistant products*. Many of the water resistant products are labelled as 'sport'. Keep these products in your pool bag or beach bag.
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Step 5
You may vary what SPF you use depending on the part of your body and your activity. On your face, chest and back of your hands you will probably want a 70 SPF. Use a selftanner in those areas - when you are the youngest looking of the 60 year olds you will know that the effort was worth it! For others, buy depending on how long you spend in the sun. You may need a few different SPF's. 70 for your face, 50 for being at the pool all day, 30 for taking a 20 minute walk with your neighbor.
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Step 6
Use the spray suntan lotions if you are at the beach by yourself or if you have kids putting on their own sunscreen. We have all had the experience of 'missing a spot' while putting on lotions and having a red streak. But this is lessened by the spray lotions. The kids can spray most of their bodies well, including doing an OK job on their backs. They also love spraying each other with the cold stuff and are more likely to do so than smear each other with lotion. Teach your kids a system arm/arm/leg/leg/chest/tummy/back - spray in hands and then rub hands on the face. If all the kids are doing this, they will be successful at doing this by themselves.
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Step 7
You may need a number of products that you use for different reasons. Keep one of the sun blocks (with either of these ingredients: Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide) in the car so that if you end up in the sun unexpectantly at a picnic you have the kind that works right away. Keep a water resistant or sport brand in your pool bag (remember to put on 20-30 minutes before you get to the pool. Keep a Neutrogena Ultra Sheer with Helioplex with your makeup so that you can put it on under your foundation if you will be spending a day in the sun.
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Step 8
Remember to protect yourself from ambient indoor light as well. Use skincare and beauty products that have at least a 15 SPF. Some sources say that the amount of light we get exposed to in a year indoors is equal to one week at the beach! To delay the development of age spots on hands and darker pigmentation on face look for and buy face lotion, handcream, foundation and makeup that has an SPF protection factor. Use it everyday as part of your skin care routine.
