Have you applied enough sun cream today? Many people underapply their sun protection, which can lead to all kinds of consequences, including sunburn, irreversible sun damage, and premature ageing.
But you needn’t worry. As one of the UK’s most popular natural and organic sunscreen brands, at Green People we know a thing or two about how to apply sun cream.
In this post, we’ll help you to know how much sun cream you need to apply as we guide you through how to apply sunscreen correctly.
How to apply sun cream
To get the best protection from your sun care products, you should ideally apply your sunscreen liberally and frequently. Sun filters typically start working after 15-20min, but the full protective effect isn’t guaranteed till after 30, so try to apply your sun cream 30 minutes before you go into the sun.
The NHS advises that if you are planning to be in the sun long enough that you may burn, you should apply sun cream twice, once 30 minutes before sun exposure and again immediately before you go into the sun.
You should also reapply your SPF every 2-3 hours during daylight hours and after swimming or exercising.
Read on to find out how much sun cream you need for your face and body.
How much sun cream to use on face and body
It is well known that applying sunscreen every day is key to protecting your skin’s future health, but did you know that if you do not use enough sunscreen, you won’t get the level of sun protection advertised on the tube?
Here’s a guide on how much sunscreen the average adult will need to apply to protect their skin from head to toe.
|
AREA |
APPLICATION |
RE-APPLICATION |
|
Face & neck |
50p amount |
Every 2-3 hours |
|
Arms |
50p amount per arm |
Every 2-3 hours |
|
Legs & feet |
1 x 50p amounts per leg |
Every 2-3 hours |
|
Thighs |
1 x 50p amounts per thigh |
Every 2-3 hours |
|
Back & torso |
1 x 50p amounts per side |
Every 2-3 hours |
Kids have smaller frames, and the amount of sun cream they need will vary depending on their age and size. Babies younger than six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
Sun creams are generally tested at an application level of 2.0mg per cm² of skin, meaning 30g is needed to cover the whole adult body. As a rough guide, the NHS website estimates that 6-8 teaspoons of suncream will be enough to cover you from head to toe[i].
If you do not apply this much, please be aware that the sun cream will not give the level of protection stated on the tube or bottle.
We do not offer spray-on sun cream, and there is a good reason for this. It is notoriously difficult to tell how much product you have applied when using a spray-on sun lotion, particularly ones packaged in aerosol cans.
Need a sun cream?
Looking for a natural approach to sun protection or struggling with sensitive skin or prickly heat? It’s time to try Green People sunscreen.
Our ultra-gentle sun creams have been clinically proven for sensitive skin and do not contain any harsh ingredients. They are also free from pore-clogging ingredients, making them a great choice for those who may be prone to prickly heat.
To make it easy to apply enough sun protection every day, we offer 50ml SPFs for the face and larger tubes of 150ml and 200ml for the body. We’ve selected our best-sellers here for you:
Best body sunscreen for sensitive skin:
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
€34,95
Best face sunscreen for sensitive skin:
Scent Free Facial Sun Cream - SPF30 50ml
Defend against sun damage every day with our best-selling SPF30 facial sun cream
€31,95
Best kids’ sunscreen for sensitive skin:
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
€34,95
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Best SPF50 kids’ sunscreen:
Organic Children Lavender Sun Cream SPF50 100ml
Discover peace-of-mind protection with our SPF50 sun cream for kids.
€32,95
We also have 100ml travel-size sunscreens that you can pop in your bag to top up your sun protection during the day.
Take our SPF quiz to find the best sunscreen for you, or quick shop our most popular natural and organic sun creams using the links below.
And don’t forget the after sun! It’s important to rehydrate skin after you have spent time in the sun.
Cooling, soothing and hydrating, our Aloe Vera-rich after sun is an oasis of comfort for your skin at the end of the day. It even contains natural tan-booster Inositol to help your golden glow.
Hydrating After Sun 200ml
Keep your tan for longer with this moisturising natural after sun lotion
€24,95
6 tips for applying sunscreen correctly
1. APPLY IN THE SHADE: Mineral sun creams will start working more or less immediately, but chemical sunscreens can take as long as 30 minutes to work.
2. APPLY PLENTY: To avoid any ‘missed bits’, apply your sunscreen and then apply a second layer[ii].
3. APPLY LAST: Sunscreen is your skin’s shield against sun damage, and it should always be applied last, on top of make-up. It should also only be applied after any other skin creams have been absorbed.
4. APPLY SMOOTHLY: Instead of rubbing your SPF into the skin, apply it smoothly. This helps to ensure even coverage and reduces the likelihood of irritating your skin with aggressive rubbing. If you experience a white cast from sunscreen, gently tap your skin to minimise any unwanted whiteness.
5. APPLY OFTEN: Reapply every 2-3 hours, especially after sweating or swimming.
6. GO BEYOND SUNSCREEN: Wear UVA sunglasses to protect your eyes from sun damage, and wear a hat to protect your hair and scalp. Limit your time in direct sunlight and seek shade during peak sunshine hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
What happens if you don’t apply enough sun cream?
According to the British Skin Foundation, 67% of people underapply their sunscreen[iii]. Worryingly, few people realise that if they do not apply enough sun cream, they will not get anywhere near the protection level stated on the bottle.
A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology showed that applying half the recommended amount of sun cream would only give you the square root of the stated SPF.
So, what does this mean for your skin? Well, if you underapply your SPF30 by 50%, you’ll only give your skin a protection level of SPF5.5. Likewise, underapplying SPF50 by half means you’ll only get the protection of SPF7.1.
Remember, SPF only protects against burning UVB rays. Check your SPF for the European standard UVA symbol for broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB. This can be found on all Green People sun cream products and looks like this:
Can you apply too much sun cream?
While applying plenty of sun cream is always advisable, your skin can only absorb so much moisture at once. If your sun cream rubs off when you touch it, it may mean your skin is still absorbing your last SPF application.
Some people also worry that applying SPF daily may block vitamin D. While we all need some vitamin D, it remains imperative that we protect our skin from UV damage, especially during the period from March to October when the sun is at its strongest. Read more about Vitamin D and sunscreen.
If you are concerned about your vitamin D levels or have a health concern that puts you at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency, it is best to speak to your GP or pharmacist for further guidance.
We hope that you have found this guide on how to apply sun cream helpful. For more help choosing the best natural and organic sunscreens for you, take our SPF quiz or contact our friendly UK customer care team at 01403 740350 or via @GreenPeopleUK?
Reviewed by:
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry. A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty. A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to "Am I applying enough sun cream". Please do not use an affiliate link.
The contents of this blog post should be treated as information only. Please consult a medical professional if you have any health-related concerns or symptoms.
[i] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/#:~:text=As%20a%20guide%2C%20adults%20should,sunscreen%20with%20a%20higher%20SPF
[ii] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240607-are-you-using-suncream-correctly
[iii] https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/sunscreen-explained-by-a-dermatologist
