Common Sunscreen Mistakes That Harm Your Skin

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Sunscreen is an important part of a beauty regimen. A sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. Therefore, it prevents all the signs of ageing on your skin, such as wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, etc. Sun is a main contributor for skin ageing and even skin cancer.

Sunscreen can offer full protection to your skin, provided you don't commit any sunscreen mistakes. There are some simple mistakes that we make with sunscreens, be it its purchasing, the right technique for storing it at home, or its application on the skin.

One important ingredient in sunscreens is avobenzone and you must check this in particular on the label while buying it, as it is the main sun protecting ingredient. Go for a medicated sunscreen rather than choosing a cosmetic one.

A sunscreen, if used properly, can be your skin's best friend always and can protect it; however, you have to know its proper usage. In this article, we have mentioned some sunscreen mistakes that you must avoid.

Go through the article to know how to use a sunscreen in the most effective way by avoiding these common sunscreen mistakes.

You’re Missing Some Areas

Apart from applying a sunscreen on your face, you must not neglect other areas. Apply sunscreen on the back of your neck, top of the ears, your hair, your cleavage and your hands. These areas of your body are often neglected and suffer from the torture of the harsh UV rays.

Not Expensive But A Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

Another common sunscreen mistake is that we look for the price and not the spectrum value on the pack. We only look for the price and quality of a sunscreen and forget to have a look at the spectrum value. If your sunscreen is a broad-spectrum one, it means that it will offer protection not only from the UV rays of the sun, but also from all other harmful types of sun rays.

You Don't Understand SPF

SPF means sun protection factor. A higher number of SPF does not mean that you can stay under the sun for a prolonged period of time. A sunscreen's SPF means the amount of harmful sun rays it can filter or deflect from your skin, not how long it protects you.

You Rely On Makeup Only

This is another sunscreen mistake to avoid. Some makeup products (foundation) do claim that they contain a sun protection factor (SPF). However, to get a full sun protection, you have to apply a lot of it on your skin and no one can do this with makeup. So don't rely on makeup SPF, first apply a sunscreen and then your makeup. Also, avoid applying it over the makeup.

Applying Ineffective Sunscreen

If you have stored your sunscreen bottle directly under the sun, or if it has been there for 3 long years then its ingredients can be rendered ineffective. Throw this sunscreen and buy a new one. This is one of the common sunscreen mistakes that most people do.

You Are Not Applying It Once More

The sunscreen wears off from your skin after 3 hours due to sweating and other things. Therefore, if you are out in the sun for a longer time, reapply your sunscreen. Carry it along with you when planning for a outside picnic.

You Are Not Applying It Beforehand

The correct way to apply sunscreen is to apply it 2 hours before going out, rather than applying it at the same time. This helps in an effective absorption of the sunscreen on to your skin. You must avoid this sunscreen mistake and make sure to apply it 1 or 2 hours before leaving your house.