Application Technique Matters

Most people apply only twenty-five to fifty percent of the sunscreen they need, which lowers the real SPF they get. The right amount for your face is about a quarter-teaspoon, roughly a nickel-sized dollop.

Apply sunscreen as the final step of skincare, after moisturizer but before makeup. Reapply every two hours of sun exposure, or right after swimming or heavy sweating. Do not forget commonly missed spots: the ears, neck, back of the hands, and hairline. These areas show damage early because they catch steady sun yet are the easiest to overlook.