Can You Use Face Sunscreen on Your Body? 15 Sunscreen Tips

You probably know sunscreen helps reduce your risk of skin cancer and prevents pesky wrinkles, dark spots, and other signs of premature aging. However, you may not know the best practices for using sunscreen.

For example, you can use face sunscreen on your body, but it's not always best the other way around. You'll also want to use sunscreen when it's sunny and when it's not. Read on for answers to 15 questions about sun protection and additional tips to help you truly protect yourself from UV rays.

1. Does It Matter if I Use Face Sunscreen on My Body?

You could use facial sunscreen on some other parts of your body—like your hands but not your lips. However, know there is a difference between face- and body-specific sunscreens. "Facial skin is generally more sensitive to irritation than body skin, so face formulations have been tested to cause less irritation and not trigger acne," Noelle Sherber, MD, a dermatologist in private practice and clinical associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University, told Health.

2. When Do You Apply Sunscreen?

Don't wait until you get to your destination to apply sunscreen. Instead, use it at home so the product is fully effective before you get out in the sun.

"You actually want to apply your sunscreen [15] minutes prior to exposure," Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, told Health. That way, it has time to get absorbed and start working—so you don't get UV exposure when your skin is vulnerable.

It's also best to apply sunscreen when you're entirely undressed and can apply it thoroughly. Otherwise, "if you already have a swimsuit or clothing on, you're likely to apply it gingerly, so you don't get it on your clothes, which makes you likely to miss a spot or not apply liberally enough," said Dr. Sherber.

Apply sunscreen in front of a full-length mirror, said Dr. Sherber, which "helps ensure you entirely cover tricky spots like the mid-back and backs of the legs."

3. How Do You Protect Your Lips?

Dr. Graf said that just like the rest of your skin, lips are vulnerable to UV rays, so it's essential to use sunscreen on your mouth. Instead of using sunscreen, try lipstick or lip balm with a sun protection factor (SPF). "Then reapply even more frequently than you do body sunscreen since talking, eating, and drinking removes the sunscreen on your lips faster," explained Dr. Graf.

4. What Is the Best Way to Apply Sunscreen?

Whatever type of sunscreen you use, put it on at least 15 minutes before you go outside. It takes that amount of time for the sunscreen to provide you with protection.

There are also a lot of less-obvious areas people tend to forget to cover in sunscreen—and they're just as essential to protect. They include:

• Back of the neck under the hairline
• Ears, especially the tops and back of your ears
• Eyelids
• Feet, including the bottoms
• Inner upper arms
• Toes
  
• Underarms

5. How Do You Choose the Best Sunscreen?

The small print on your sunscreen label matters, so make sure you're choosing the right sunscreen for your activity. For example, if that activity involves sweat, a pool, or the ocean, consider using a water-resistant sunscreen.

6. Do You Need Sunscreen Even on Cloudy Days?

You might think you don't need sunscreen when the sun's not out. However, you can get UV exposure without ever seeing the sun in the sky. On cloudy days, 80% of UV rays still come through.

7. Which Type of Sunscreen is Best for Your Face?

Look for a facial sunscreen labeled "broad spectrum." Broad spectrum sunscreens can ensure you're fully covered in sun exposure, as they block UVA and UVB rays.

Also, the sunscreen that works best for you depends on your skin. For example, individuals with vitiligo may benefit from high-SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreens. People with rosacea may need to use sunscreens with dimethicone or cyclomethicone, two skin-protecting ingredients, to help prevent facial irritation.

Additionally, you don't want to use body sunscreen on your face if you experience acne. "If you're acne-prone or sensitive, avoid the body versions for your face, especially the dry-touch sprays—they're full of alcohol, which is very drying and irritating for facial skin," said Dr. Sherber.

8. How Much Sunscreen Should I Apply?

You don't have to use a lot of sunscreen to get the coverage you need. Just apply a shot glass's amount—about an ounce.

A nickel-size dollop is the right amount for your face. From the neck down, 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin is necessary, equivalent to about 2 tablespoons.

If you use continuous spray formulas, it can be hard to tell if you're getting enough coverage. To ensure you're using sprays correctly, Dr. Graf suggested holding the can six inches from your skin and spraying nonstop until you can see the moisture covering the entire area.

"Then rub it in—yes, even if the bottle says you don't have to—so you don't miss spots," said Dr. Graf. "And repeat the spray a second time."

9. Should I Wear Sunscreen Every Day?

Unless you spend your time in a windowless bunker, you're not protected from UV rays when you're inside. Your best bet is to apply sunscreen every morning. You also have the option to use a moisturizer with SPF if you don't want to add another step to your daily routine.

10. When Should I Throw Out Sunscreen?

If you're using enough sunscreen when applying—one ounce or two coats of spray—then you likely won't have open bottles left from year to year. However, toss your sunscreen if you've had it for a year or two since it starts losing its effectiveness over time.

Shelf life is up to three years, depending on your chosen formula. Look at that date before you purchase, and continue to pay attention to it. Also, sunscreens don't always show obvious signs they are past their prime. Some don't have expiration dates, so write when you bought it on the bottle.

Elizabeth Hale, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center, also told Health that you should keep track of where your bottle has been. "Exposure to UV light and heat can degrade a product much faster. Avoid leaving a bottle in the car, direct sunlight, or even the bathroom, which tends to get humid," said Dr. Hale.

11. How Do I Know Which SPF to Use?

The SPF measures how well the sunscreen blocks out UVB rays—which primarily cause sunburns. There's a common misconception that the SPF tells you how much longer it would take to get a sunburn than if you went out in the sun with bare skin.

You might think it takes 15 times longer to burn with an SPF 15 sunscreen. That's not true. Many factors come into play regarding how quickly you burn, including the time of day, how much sunscreen you have on, and your skin characteristics.

SPF is a relative measure of the amount of sunburn protection provided by sunscreens that allows you to compare the level of sunburn protection provided by different brands. Recommendations include using sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30.

You could opt for an SPF that's higher, but the protection may not be that different. SPF 30 blocks 97% of rays, while SPF 50 blocks just 1% more. However, they do have some additional benefits.

"They absorb more free radical-producing energy, so I recommend them for the summer," said Dr. Graf. Dr. Graf's caveat before you reach for the SPF 100: "The super-high SPFs can provide a false sense of security—like you're protected for longer—but you need to reapply just as often as you would an SPF 30."

12. How Often Should You Reapply Sunscreen?

Reapplying sunscreen is just as important as putting it on in the first place because it doesn't last all day. To be sure that you're covered head to toe, dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen before you get dressed and then reapplying to all exposed skin.

It's best to layer on more SPF every two hours. If you've gone for a swim—even if your SPF is water-resistant—or have been sweating excessively, reapply immediately after those activities.

13. Do I Need Sunscreen in the Shade?

Seeking solace under a beach umbrella or an awning near the pool doesn't mean you get adequate sun protection. Sand and water reflect damaging rays, which means UV radiation still gets through when you're under a beach umbrella, "so you still have to apply sunscreen if you're sitting under cover," said Dr. Graf.

A 2017 study found that 78% of participants who used an umbrella and no sunscreen got sunburned in one or more areas. Even if you don't get sunburned, you still get UV exposure.

14. When Should You Wear Water-Resistant Sunscreen?

You'll want to wear water-resistant sunscreen whenever your skin is likely to be wet. "Make sure you get a water-resistant formulation for swimming or activities where you'll perspire because non-water-resistant formulas can slide right off," said Dr. Sherber. "Plus, they tend to migrate into eyes and sting, whereas water-resistant ones won't."

Water-resistant sunscreens have 40 minutes of effectiveness, while very water-resistant sunscreens are effective against moisture for 80 minutes. Depending on the resistance level indicated by the label, you'll have to re-apply the sunscreen after those times.

15. How Can You Protect Your Eyes?

Sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement—they're critical to keeping your eyes safe from UV rays. "Without [UV protection], the dark lenses actually allow your pupils to dilate, allowing even more UV rays in, which can play a big role in cataract development," said Dr. Sherber. According to a 2021 study, people who didn't wear sunglasses had a 57% higher incidence of cataracts.

Other Sun Protection Tips

Consider these additional tips when you spend time out in the sun:

• Limit how much time you spend in the sun—particularly in the middle of the day.
• Keep a pair of sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection on hand to wear.
• Use shade as much as possible.
• Wear protective, tightly woven clothing and a hat.

A Quick Review

There are many recommendations for individuals to apply sunscreen daily. That's regardless of whether it's a sunny or cloudy day and whether you spend the day inside or out.

How often you re-apply sunscreen will vary based on your activities, but starting your day with a layer of sunscreen before getting dressed, wearing sunglasses when outdoors, and using lip balm with SPF 30 or higher are three habits that will go a long way in protecting your skin from the sun.