Sunscreen has come a long way since the days of thick white creams with a strong chemical smell (thank goodness!). There’s a whole new level of sophistication to {body sunscreens} now, and we’re 100% here for it. From invisible gels and vitamin-infused formulas to SPF body lotions and sunscreens that double up as self-tanners, there’s something for every beach bum.
With the help of Cult Concierge skin care expert {Ryan}, we’ve answered some of the most important questions about SPF and rounded up the very best body SPFs for all skin types.
What SPF should body sunscreen be?
The answer to this depends on a whole lot of different factors. As a starting point, consider your geography and UV index, and then take into account the season, your skin tone, and whether you’re also using a physical block such as clothing, a parasol or natural shade.
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in direct sunlight, then it’s always best to go for SPF 50, even if you want a tan, and especially if you’re having a beach or pool day. Trust us, you’ll still get a tan, but your skin will be much better protected from those harmful rays. You’ll need to reapply your body sunscreen every two hours or every time you get wet. SPF 50 only offers slightly higher UV protection (around 2%), but over a lifetime, this does make a very big difference.
For protection when you’re wearing clothes or in the shade, SPF 30 is perfect. It tends to have a more lightweight consistency that absorbs easily into your skin, so you won’t need to worry about feeling greasy or your clothes sticking to you.
Can you use the same SPF on your body and on your face?
In many cases yes, but for daily protection, face-specific sunscreens have a slightly lighter formulation that your face will thank you for. Some skin types will find that their face responds just fine to body sunscreen, but for oily and breakout-complexions, it’s definitely best to use a sunscreen specifically formulated for the face.
If you’re going to be in and out of the water all day, however, you might find that regular top ups can be done using your body sunscreen (this is the cheaper option too!). The price point of {face sunscreens} tends to be higher and the bottles much smaller, so it isn’t necessarily worthwhile using your face SPF to top up your protection throughout the day. For the same reason, it’s not worth using your face sunscreen all over your body.
Should you put sunscreen all over your body?
Every day – even in winter – you want sunscreen on your face, ears, neck and hands. Even when you’re spending the whole day indoors, your skin is still exposed to those damaging UV rays, so daily application on these key areas is always necessary as part of your {body care} routine. And of course, face SPF should always be the final step in your morning {skin care} routine. You only really need to apply sunscreen to the rest of your body in summer or when more of your skin is exposed.
But of course, if you live in a warmer climate when more of your skin is exposed year round, you should apply body sunscreen every day too.
How much sunscreen should you use on your body?
The amount of sunscreen you use will be individual to you, but as a guide, the NHS recommends two teaspoons of sunscreen if you’re just covering your head, arms and neck, and two tablespoons if you’re covering your entire body while wearing a swimming costume. What’s important is that you want a noticeable layer when first applied, especially if you’re going to be in direct sunlight.