Tip 4: Always wear sunscreen

I cannot even begin to tell you have many times I’ve managed to burn myself thinking there’s no risk of burning on a cloudy day. I am fair skinned and have the red hair gene, which makes me very susceptible to burning. But even if you do not burn easily, I would recommend wearing sunscreen as sunscreen that blocks UVA help protect against skin cancer. I have most frequently burned my décolletage as I often wear V-necks or lowcut tops.

When you are buying sunscreen look for broad-spectrum sunscreens that block both UVB and UVA radiation. I also recommend buying the highest SPF possible, however if you do not burn easily you can probably choose a lower SPF but nothing under 15 unless you have a super dark complexion, practically never burn and tan quickly. I always opt for SPF 50 or 50+ except on my face where I usually wear a day cream with SPF 15 to 20 under my makeup. If I am going to the beach, skiing or out on the water I wear SPF 50 also on my face.

You should also remember that sunscreen will keep for around 12 month and loses its protective properties over time. Even though you do not burn, the sun damages your skin. You may also be surprised by how strong the sun can be in places where you’d think it isn’t. For example, I know of people from South America that never wear sunscreen in their home country getting burnt when visiting Finland . In addition to sunscreen, I recommend using a after sun lotion. After sun products refresh, hydrate and soothe the skin. Most people do not apply enough sunscreen nor add it often enough. You should use approximately two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. In practice, this means applying the equivalent of a shot glass (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to the exposed areas of the face and body – a nickel-sized dollop to the face alone. If you’re using a spray, apply until an even sheen appears on the skin. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, or more frequently after swimming, heavy perspiration, or toweling off.