This Is How Much Sunscreen You Should Actually Be Applying
Yes, everyone knows that sunscreen is important - but are we putting too little?
If there's one thing that you absolutely must have in your skincare routine, it's sunscreen. In 2022, the beauty world developed a booming interest in sunscreens, and not without good reason. It protects us from UV rays from the sun, which penetrate the skin, causing sunburns with prolonged exposure and even degrade collagen, which over time can cause premature ageing, discolouration and even skin cancer. Sunscreen acts as a physical or chemical barrier between our skin and the sun, blocking out the harmful UV rays.
So, there’s no question that everyone should be applying sunscreen. However, another question remains: How much sunscreen should we be applying to our faces? Just a dollop? Or do we generously lather it all over? This question has had several different answers, with some even going to rather extreme lengths to find out themselves.
To answer this question once and for all, we asked Dr Rachel Ho, an aesthetic doctor at La Clinic.
Due to this, you may understandably think that you’ll need to apply different amounts, but don’t be fooled — Dr Ho points out that the sunscreen’s consistency is not affected by the sunscreen filters, but rather, the amount of oils the sunscreen has. Thick, creamy sunscreens have higher oil content than lotion sunscreens, but at the end of the day, they may both contain the same SPF level.
For those of you who prefer a spray, it may be difficult to estimate just how much sunscreen has been applied, but the American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests spraying till your skin glistens, while avoiding inhaling the spray. After this, you’re not done yet, Dr Ho reminds. Remember to rub it in to your skin.
Now that we know how much sunscreen to apply on our faces, what about the amount to apply on our bodies?
“The recommended amount is one shot glass or two table spoons,” Dr Ho advises. “An easy way of looking at it would be to apply two finger lengths to each arm, and about four finger lengths for your front and back torso and each leg.”