How Much Sunscreen Should You Use?

While it's easy to get a measure of your cleansers, serums, and moisturisers, it’s always tricky to figure out how much sunblock to apply on your face. Undergoing it may leave your skin vulnerable to the sun, whereas overdoing it may cost you the product. So, it's time to put all your doubts to rest on how to apply sunscreen on your face and how much of it, at that.

Keynotes:

• Learning how much sunscreen to apply to the face is crucial for maintaining SPF strength and ensuring proper protection.
• Use about 2 fingers or ½ teaspoon for the face and some more for the neck, ensuring optimal SPF protection.
• Sunscreens should be the last step in your morning skincare routine and reapplied every 2-3 hours, especially when outdoors, sweating, or swimming.
• Common sunscreen mistakes include underapplying, skipping reapplication, and spots like the ears and jawline, and using sunscreens that don’t suit your skin type.

Sunscreen is one of the most effective, no-compromise products of your morning skincare routine. It protects your skin against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to keep it free from spots, pigmentation, and photoaging. However, even the best sunscreens don’t deliver promised protection if not applied in the right amount or manner. Using too little can still leave your skin susceptible to concerns like pigmentation, photoaging, and even skin cancer. This is why it becomes crucial to learn how to apply sunscreen on the face and how much sunscreen to apply on the face.

Studies also go to show that the effectiveness of your sunscreen’s SPF or Sun Protection Factor is directly related to how much you apply. According to reports, it is crucial to apply at least 2 mg of SPF sunscreen per cm2 of your skin for Asians. However, most people are in the habit of using only 1/2 mg of sunscreen per cm2, significantly impacting the SPF protection.

Sunscreen also needs to be reapplied, generally every 2 hours, to keep its efficacy going.

When sunscreens are tested in labs for their strengths, the researchers use a set amount. This is why learning how to use sunscreen in the correct amount ensures broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays and keeps your skin protected from premature ageing, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. If you’re wondering how much SPF is good for the face, here are a few general guidelines you can follow -

• 2-Finger Rule

  Typically, sunscreen manufacturers and a few doctors recommend the two-finger rule for using sunscreen on the face. This means squeezing sunscreen along the length of two adult fingers (index and middle) to get at least a teaspoon or roughly 2 full finger-lengths of sunscreen. Add an extra finger length. Roughly, this quantity may help you achieve a 2 mg/cm² measure, replicating the SPF level tested in laboratories.

• Adjusting Amount Based on SPF Level

  It’s a myth that applying more of a lower SPF product can offer the same protection as applying a higher SPF. While the underapplication of any sunscreen reduces efficacy, choosing a high SPF and proper formula is crucial, too. Look for at least SPF 50+ sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. Remember, a higher SPF is better for extended outdoor activities or for those with photosensitive skin conditions like melasma or rosacea.

Sunscreen should be the final step in your morning skincare routine after cleanser, serum, and moisturiser, but before makeup. The ingredients of your sunscreen create a physical or chemical barrier against the UV, which must be evenly distributed and fully absorbed for optimal function. Here’s how to apply sunscreen on your face during your AM skincare routine:

• How to apply sunscreen on face

  Step 1: Start by using a cleansing gel to remove any excessive oils and impurities on your skin. Go on to use serum and moisturiser on your face. Allow your skincare products some time to sink in. Once absorbed, move to your sunscreens.
  
  Step 2: Take 1/2 teaspoon or 2 fingers’ length of sunscreen for your face and apply it evenly on your forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and ears. Gently spread the sunblock using patting and gliding motions. Apply your sun protection at least 15 minutes before stepping out.
  
  Step 3: Allow the sunscreen to settle in and then go on to use makeup if you wish to.
  
  Step 4: Reapply the sunscreen throughout the day, at least every 2-3 hours if you’re outdoors.

• Should you reapply sunscreen?

  Absolutely! No sunscreen gives you “all-day protection.” The product wears off due to sweat, friction, and wiping your face, and reapplication is necessary, especially after activities like swimming and running. If you wear makeup, transparent gel-based sunscreens, sunscreen sprays, or cushion compacts with SPF can be used for SPF reapplication during the day.

Even the most consistent skincare routines can fall short if sunscreen mistakes are made. Here are some common errors to avoid while learning how much sunblock to apply on your face.

1. Underusing:

   Using too little sunscreen is the most common mistake. Use sunblock generously to keep your SPF factor at its optimum level.

2. Not Reapplying:

   Sweat, oiliness, and water, and wiping down, can expose your skin to UV again. Reapply your sunblock to ensure protection throughout the day, especially if you’re outdoors or sitting near windows.

3. Restricting Use to Summers:

   UVA rays are present year-round and can penetrate clouds and glass due to their longer wavelengths. This is why you need SPF even on cloudy days, indoors, during winters, and monsoons.

4. Missing Spots:

   You may typically focus on your cheeks and T-zone while applying sunscreen. However, it's just as important to apply sunscreen to your eyelids, ears, hairline, and jawline.

5. Using Expired Sunscreen:

   Expired sunscreens can lose their potency. Always check the PAO (Period After Opening) symbol and expiration date.

6. Using Wrong Formulations:

   Since you’re using sunscreens every day in high quantities, it’s crucial to select formulations that suit your skin. The good news is, Eucerin has something for everyone.

Sun Face Hydro Protect Ultra-Light Fluid SPF50+ - For Dry and Hypersensitive Skin

Sun Face Pigment Control Fluid SPF50+ - For Pigmented Indian Skin

Sun Face Oil Control Gel-Cream SPF50+ - For Oily and Acne Prone Skin

Learning how much sunscreen to apply on your face is just as important as choosing the right product. Remember the two-finger trick and use SPF 50 or higher, apply generously and evenly, and remember to reapply every 2 hours during sun exposure. Use sunblock to prevent photoaging, melasma, and skin cancer, and invest in science-backed products with Eucerin.

1. How much sunscreen should I apply to my face daily?

   You should apply at least half a teaspoon or two fingers of sunscreen to your face in one go. It’s crucial to reapply sunscreen every few hours.

2. Is SPF 30 enough for daily use, or should I go higher?

   While SPF 30 may be adequate, it’s best to use SPF 50+ for your skin in regions with high sun exposure and UV exposure. Look for broad-spectrum sunscreens that have both UVA and UVB filters and protect you from HEVIS.

3. How often should I reapply sunscreen during the day?

   If you’re outdoors, swimming, or sweating, it’s crucial to reapply sunscreen every two hours.

4. How much sunscreen do I reapply?

   The sunscreen application rule remains the same even if you are reapplying. Use two fingers of sunscreen for your face and three for your face and neck.

• PubMed - Sunscreens: UV filters and efficacy
• PubMed - Sunscreens: Mechanisms of photoprotection and evaluation
• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) - How to apply sunscreen
• Johns Hopkins Medicine - Sunscreen and Your Morning Routine