As someone with extremely pale skin, I know how important it is to add sunscreen to your daily routine. As the summer approaches, I wanted to share some of my favorite sunscreen hacks so you won’t dread applying sunscreen every single day.
I am very adamant about using sunscreen every day, especially in the summer months. I have had several places removed to prevent skin cancer so I am doing everything I can to prevent it while still being normal and going outside.
I share some of your common complaints about sunscreen: it messes up my makeup, it is sticky, it can feel heavy and make me breakout, etc.
I have gone through A LOT of different brands and wanted to share some of my favorite sunscreen hacks and tips to make applying and using sunscreen easier so that you can protect your skin.
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Sunscreen Hacks for the Beach & Pool
Make Mineral Sunscreen Look Less Pasty: No one wants to have pasty white sunscreen all over them at the beach or pool! Mineral sunscreen can be especially hard to blend into your skin.
Apply the sunscreen in thin layers and use a straight movement across your arms, legs, and face to prevent buildup in certain spots. Don’t make a circular motion. You can continue to apply layers as needed.
Go Inside at Peek Hours: The sun’s rays are at their strongest from the hours of 12-3pm. This would be the perfect time to go inside for a long lunch and to let the kids rest.
To really protect your skin, hit the beach in the mornings from 9-11 or in the evenings from 4:00pm. Bonus, these are the least crowded and cooler times as well!
Put a Hair Elastic Around your Sunscreen Bottle: Instead of wearing a hair elastic around your wrist, put it around your sunscreen bottle. This will remind you to apply sunscreen to the back of your neck and ears when you put your hair up.
Set a Timer: You know you need to reapply sunscreen every two hours (more if you are in the water), but do you really do it?
I like to set an alarm on my phone to go off every two hours to remind me to reapply. Put your phone in a plastic bag with the sunscreen so that when you go to turn off the alarm, you already have the sunscreen in your hand.
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Wear Rash guards: If you are really lazy about applying sunscreen when you need to, you may want to opt to wear your SPF protection.
You can wear some cute rash guards to keep your upper body protected from the sun. These are great for full days spent at the beach or pool without having to constantly reapply sunscreen.
Store Sunscreen in the Cooler: I love this sunscreen hack! If you are bringing a cooler, go ahead and store your sunscreen in there as well. This will help prevent the sunscreen from breaking down in the hot sun.
Plus, it will cool you off when you reapply!
How to Apply Sunscreen with Makeup
Find the Perfect Face Sunscreen: I went through several brands of face sunscreen to find one that was perfect for me. I like using the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Sunscreen for my face.
It moisturizes my skin and doesn’t leave a sticky residue on my face. I put it on about 3-5 minutes before I apply my makeup to give my skin enough time to fully absorb the sunscreen.
Reapply Sunscreen without Ruining your Makeup: Who wants to reapply sunscreen when your makeup is perfect? I found two highly rated products that really make it possible to wear sunscreen and not ruin your makeup.
You can use a powder sunscreen like, Colorscience Mineral Sunscreen Brush, to easily brush on SPF over your makeup.
You can also use a setting mist like, Supergoop! Defense Refresh Setting Mist Sunscreen, to easily spray over your makeup.
Both of these options offer great SPF coverage and have amazing reviews!
How to Wear Sunscreen Everyday
Get the Most out of Spray Sunscreen: I love using the spray sunscreens because they are super fast and easy to apply. You have to be careful in how you apply the sunscreen to make sure you get full protection.
Spray the sunscreen no farther than an inch from your skin to make sure you get full SPF protection and then rub it into your skin to make sure all spots are covered.
Get Naked: Apply sunscreen when you are naked. This is such an easy way to make sure you don’t miss any spots.
I do this when I am going to wear a tankini because the top always seems to ride up in the back and I don’t want a red streak across my lower back (it’s happened!).
Make Sunscreen Double as a Hair Styler: Most people forget to apply sunscreen to their hair part. It’s very important not to miss this spot because it gets direct sunlight the most.
If you don’t want to wear a hat all day, you can use one of two products without messing up your hair. Use a sunscreen stick and it will help tame flyaways. You can also dust some powdered sunscreen along your part to help absorb oil.
Use Everyday SPF Products: You can easily layer SPF protection by making sure all of your makeup and skincare products have it in their formulas.
Most people don’t use enough of every product to get the full SPF coverage that is advertised so it is a good idea to use a moisturizer, foundation, lip balm, primer, concealer, etc. that has SPF in it to get an adequate amount of coverage.
Keep a Sunscreen Stick in your Purse: Out of all the sunscreen hacks this is one I do every single day. I love how convenient the sunscreen sticks are! You can easily keep one in your purse and apply it throughout the day.
I have found that using a sunscreen stick is a lot easier to apply to my squirmy toddler than the sprays or lotions! I tell her I am “painting” her face and she will usually sit still for me.
Use these sunscreen hacks to protect your skin so that you can enjoy your summer family time without having to constantly be inside. Get outside and have some fun!
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