People miss 10 percent of their face when they’re applying SPF, one of the most common sites for skin cancer, according to a study presented at the British Association of Dermatologists’ Annual Conference.
So, what’s a guy to do? You guessed it: Applying sunscreen thoroughly, liberally, and often is the first step.
For full coverage, try portioning out your sunscreen for each section of your body—you should total about the contents of a shot glass, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
When men portioned out their sunscreen before applying it, they used 51 percent more sunscreen and covered 83 percent more skin, one 2014 study found.
Heather Rogers, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, recommends using this guideline: Make sure you’re hitting any area that’s perpendicular to the sun, like the top of your head, shoulders, and tops of your feet, because they get a more direct hit of the rays. Plus, make sure to reapply after every two hours, or after a swim or sweat session.
Mineral sunscreens—which work by reflecting, scattering, and blocking UV rays—don’t need extra time to activate. But chemical sunscreens, known as “chemical absorbers” because they convert UV rays into heat, need 30 minutes to set into your skin.
Read more: Ways You’re Using Sunscreen Wrong
