How much sunscreen should you be using on your face and body every day to keep your skin safe from UV harm? I used to think that a high SPF was enough. As long as I slather on SPF 30 or higher, it doesn’t matter how much I apply, it’s going to keep my skin well-protected even in the scorching hot summer months. Boy, how wrong I was!
It doesn’t matter how high your SPF is, quantity matters too. Don’t get me wrong, of course you do want a high SPF. Anything under 30 is pretty much useless. BUT, here’s the catch: you could slather on SPF 100, but if you skimp on application because the texture’s all greasy and unpleasant, it’s not going to protect your skin as well as you think. And then you wonder why you got a sunburn even though you were so careful!
It’s not the sunscreen’s fault. And frankly, it’s not your fault either. Everyone is telling you to apply sunscreen liberally but, realistically, how much is that?! A thick layer? Half a teaspoon? You do a quick Google search and everyone has a different answer…. I’ve talked to lots of dermatologists over the years and here’s how the answer the question, “How much sunscreen should you apply on your face and body every day?” Let’s find out:
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How Much Sunscreen Do You Really Need To Use For Your Face?
Did you know there’s a difference between the way scientists test sunscreen efficacy and the way people use sunscreen in daily life?
“To get the protection labeled on the product, you would need to replicate the application they do in the lab, which is 2 milligrams per square centimeter for the average person. That translates to half a teaspoon on face and neck combined — a quarter teaspoon each” says board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. “Realistically, people use somewhere around half of that amount.”
If that’s too complicated to remember, here’s some practical advice from board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick: “For the face, it is recommended to apply a nickel-sized dollop — the equivalent of two finger lengths, which is also equivalent to half a teaspoon, to the face and neck combined.” It doesn’t matter if you’re using a chemical or physical sunscreen, by the way. Always apply exactly this amount.
But what if you’re using a stick sunscreen? I’m not a fan, but if you must use one, “apply four passes back and forth and then rub it in after for even coverage,” Garshick says. What about sprays? I do NOT recommend at all. They’re see-through, so it’s impossible to see if you’ve skipped a bit of skin. But, if you insist on using them, apply them until there’s a visible sheen on the skin (you must make sure every inch of skin is covered!).
How Much Sunscreen Do You Need For Your Body?
You still need to apply 2mg per cm2 as that’s how scientists test the efficacy of your sunscreen. But how much is that for your body? When you go to the beach, you just want to slather sunscreen on, not do math equations in your head, know what I mean?
2mg per cm2 translates to “1 teaspoon per arm and leg each, front and back,” says Hirsch. What about the whole body? This time Garshick comes to the rescue, explaining that’s “equivalent to one shot glass for the body or two tablespoons.”
SUMMARY
Here’s how much 2mg per cm2 is in real life:
- Face only: 1/4 of teaspoon
- Face and neck: 1/2 of teaspoon
- Arms: 1 teaspoon each
- Entire body: a shot glass
WARNING! These are general guidelines. If you have a bigger than average face, you’ll need a bit more. If you have a smaller face, you’ll need a little less.
Related: Are You Applying Sunscreen The Right Way?
How Much SPF Do You Get If You Apply Less?
Rumour had it, if you apply half the amount of sunscreen you need to stay safe in the sun, you’d get the protection of only the square root of the SPF. So a SPF 70 turns into a SPF 8.4! Scientists calculated it with the Beer-Lambert law, a physics law that says that protection decreases exponentially with less sunscreen. Michelle of Lab Muffin has a great post about this, if you’re interested in the science behind this law.
But, I’ll keep this simple for you. Scientists used this law to theoretically judge how much application affected SPF. Until one day, someone, somewhere, decided to put this law to the test. You know what they found out? The latest research shows that, with less application, SPF decreases linearly, not exponentially.
In other words, applying half the recommended amount gives you half the SPF. So a SPF 50 becomes a SPF 25. That’s more like it, isn’t it? But don’t go using this excuse to apply less sunscreen now. What’s the point of buying SPF 50 if you don’t get the full protection out of it?
Best Sunscreen Picks
Not sure which sunscreens to use? Here are my fave sunscreens for every skin type and need:
- Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinte Physical Daily Defense SPF 30 ($36.00): A tinted mineral sunscreen that protects you from all UV rays without leaving a white cast behind. Best suitable for dry skin. Available at Boots, Cult Beauty, SpaceNK, and Ulta.
- La Roche Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Face Sunscreen SPF 60 ($19.99): Ideal for oily skin, this lightweight sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection and absorbs excess oil for a matte finish. Available at Boots, Dermstore, La Roche Posay, and Ulta.
- Paula’s Choice Defense Essential Glow Moisturiser SPF30 ($26.40): Suitable for all skin types, this tinted mineral sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection, fights premature wrinkles, and dries to a luminous finish. Available at Cult Beauty, Paula’s Choice, Sephora, Selfridges, and SpaceNK.
- Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ WetForce for Sensitive Skin and Children ($42.00): A high SPF, broad spectrum protection formula that’s gentle enough even for children and sensitive skin. It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. Available at Sephora and Ulta.
- Supergoop! Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 ($38.00): A mineral sunscreen that provides broad-spectrum protection and dries to a silky matte finish. It also minimises the look o pores. It’s best suitable for oily and combination skin. Available at Blue Mercury, Nordstrom, Revolve, and Ulta.
- Ultrasun Ultra Sensitive Very High SPF50+ Extreme Formula (£30.00): This sunscreen uses the new generation of chemical filters to provide broad spectrum protection without the irritation. Suitable for sensitive skin too. Available at Boots, Sephora, and SpacenK.
The Bottom Line
If you want the protection the SPF promises you, you need to apply sunscreen in the same way researchers test it to determine that SPF in the first place. Put simply, you need to use 1/2 of teaspoon for your face and neck and a shot glass for your entire body.
i usually am very generous with sunscreen, because more is better than less in this case!
Xin, I agree. It’s always ok to apply more when it comes to sunscreen, but very dangerous to apply less.
I guess (and hope!) I’m applying enough sunscreen. I think that people would be more prone to use the right amount of sunscreen if this was less thick and fragrance-free. The one I’m using for the body (Bottega Verde Sol SPF 50) has a strong chocolate-like scent; most of the times that I use it, I hear somebody saying “What’s this smell?”. It’s so embarrassing!
La Bisbetica, I agree. I wish scientists would create a sunscreen that offers adequate protection even if you apply only a small amount.. I don’t mind scents too much in cosmetics, as long as they’re not too strong. That’s really offputting.
No.
I simply don’t have enough money to afford that amount of sunscreen.
Ana, it’s a shame that you have to apply so much isn’t it? Applying less is dangerous but if you use the right amount, you often run out of it in no time. I try to wear protective clothes as much as possible, but that’s not always possible especially in the summer.
Dang! I didn’t know that applying 1/2 amount only gave you the spf rating of the labels spf rating! I though it was more like for example if you applied 1/3 the amount you should you’d get an spf of 1/3 on the label.
To anybody coping with the $$ of sunscreen I think that to save money you don’t have to put it under your cloths;only where you’re cloths aren’t touching (mostly applying to indoors, people 🙂 ). Then you’d definitely not have to use even near a shot glass’s worth! I guess it wouldn’t be a sin if you put less on your body than recommended amount indoors,too, there,if you’re inside because 0 UVB go through windows and only 50% of UVA gets inside,so fortunately windows protect some. (I’d still put recommended amount of face for max protection) 🙂
I meant square root’s worth of spf rating on label.
H, it would be great if it worked that way, but we only get the square root, unfortunately. 🙁
I agree, sunscreen can be so expensive, so apply the recommended amount only where necessary. There’s no point using more.
Totally. That would save you $$$. 🙂 Um, about it working that way, I meant square root. Just a little mistake when I was typing. 🙁
I meant using half the amount of sunscreen gives you the square root of the spf rating.Sorry for cluttering the comments section.
No worries, H. 🙂
I calculated that even if we just use it on our face and neck (2.5ml per day) and we use $30/30 ml great elegant physical suncsreen (for under makeup) we will run out in just 12 days. So in a year we will have to buy 30 bottles of sunscreen –> 30 x $ 30 = $900. And that’s only for our face and neck. I definitely use less just because I can’t afford to buy a new bottle of $30 sunscreen every 12 days. I ended up using it for almost a year! But I work mostly indoor so I don’t exactly expose myself to too much sun anyways, just exposed a bit at the car when going to work.
Audrey, yep, that’s the problem with sunscreen. They should come only in huge bottles at cheap prices but the reality is different. If you’re serious about sun protection, you’ll have to spend a small fortune!
Even by using less product than the recommendation I truly felt the benefits of using sunscreen. So amazing! I will definitely try to budget more money into sun protection since I’m almost in my mid 20s now. Don’t want premature aging creeping up on me later on.
Audrey, smart lady! Any money invested now is money saved later.
To anyone looking for cheap but effective broad spectrum suncream, I use Vaseline’s SPF (comes in a pink bottle – something about ‘Healthy White’?) You can get a HUGE bottle for under £5 (400ml) & it comes with a pump. The sunscreen on white but blends into the skin well (I have sensitive combination skin, so anything too thick will just sit on my skin & not absorb/ make me break out). Good luck!
I definitely use enough sunscreen on my face, but I don’t know about the rest of my body. I definitely apply enough so that I have to spend some time working it in, but a shot glass? Probably not. I’ve always known about that rule, but urghhh I don’t want to rebuy sunscreen every two weeks! I agree with all that was said up there, it would be great if someone could develop a sunscreen that needs less product for the same amount of sun protection.
Makeup Morsels, a shot glass is a lot, isn’t it? If you abide by that rule, you’ll gonna finish the bottle in no time! But not applying enough is never a good idea either. I try to wear pants and long-sleeved tops whenever I can to save on the sunscreen, but that’s not something you can do when it’s really hot unfortunately.
You’re doing it right as I attended a “sunscreen” workshop or talk and it’s basically teaspoons they use, I don’t even get to apply half as much, I’m just too scared of the icky feeling! But yeah, I NEED to follow directions or I’m just wasting products!
Thanks for this.
Nikki, you’re welcome. Yes, some sunscreens are so thick that feel really icky on the skin. Just experiment until you find out that doesn’t. Wearing the right amount of sunscreen is too important. 🙂
I work for Kiehl’s and am in love with our Super Fluid SPF 50. It’s featherlight in a vitamin E base and absorbs to a weightless matte finish. I use exactly 1/4 teaspoon and it feels smooth and like I don’t have another layer on. Formulation really matters in how comfortable a product feels.
Phylisteen, I’m glad you’ve found something that works so well for you. Formulation is very important indeed, and this one sounds great.
i was like “oh?is it?” when i read this one. I didn’t know there is right way and amount of applying sunscreen.I usually apply it just like the moisturizer,with a small amount to avoid the greasy and shining face.In hope that a bottle of sunscreen will last me longer time.Now that i know i did not applied enough.:(
Thanks for the info…i will (hopefully) apply right/enough amount this time around.
Fane Davis, you’re welcome. Unfortunately, that’s what most people think, and what I used to do when I first started using sunscreen. Sadly, applying so little will give you little protection and still leave skin exposed to sunburn and premature aging. 🙁
I’m pretty sure I do! I use a plentiful amount and I don’t skimp on it because it’s precious. I feel like it’s worth it :]. Both chemical and physical sunscreens need 1/4 tsp?
I am so tired! :[
Janessa, according to Dr Schultz, if you use a chemical-free sunscreen, you can apply a bit less. You can find the full explanation here: http://www.dermtv.com/how-apply-chem-free-sunscreen. However, it’s not easy to find a sunscreen with only physical sunscreen ingredients. Most are a combination of both chemical and physical ones so I say pile it on. It’s always best to apply more than less in this case.
Wow, thanks so much, Gio! You are so amazing, I even asked my roomies for a synonym for the word haha.
lol, thanks hun. I’m all red now. 😳
How do people use that little on their skin? >D My skin practically absorbs all moisture the second it hits, so I can use nearly a shotglass of sunscreen on just my arms and they’ll be dry in seconds. x.x I keep a separate sunscreen for my face, and I don’t need much there, but the rest of my body? O.o So I tend to wear covering clothing as often as possible, and apply on any exposed skin.
Thurisaz, lucky you! My skin would be all greasy if I used a shotglass only on my arm! lol
I tend to wear covering clothes as much possible too so that I can wear less sunscreen. 🙂
When I apply my sunscreen it goes on white then it clears up after a few minutes. Do I need to rub in the sunscreen until all the whiteness goes away or should I just slather on sunscreen making like a smooth white layer and then let it dry clear?? I usually rub it in a few times but I’m afraid if I rub it in too much then I’ll affect the protection I need and if I don’t rub it in enough it won’t absorb properly…
Elizabeth, does your sunscreen contain Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide? These ingredients are white minerals so it’s normal for them to leave a white cast on the skin. As long as you slather the appropriate amount on all areas covered, the protection shouldn’t be affected.