Exactly how much sunscreen should you be applying when you jet off to sunnier climes? Spoiler: You’re probably not smearing on enough. A recent study found that 67% of British people don’t use enough sun cream , with 44% using less than half the recommended amount. You’re supposed to use six teaspoons or more of sun cream for your entire body, but that’s a bit tricky to visualise when it comes to actually applying .
Handily, The Hospital Group has broken it down for us, creating images of the recommended amount of sunblock you should be using for each body part. We’ve also got the lowdown on how much product you’ll need to take with you on your next holiday, taking the hassle out of packing your UV protection. Loads of us forget to smother our face in sun cream , and when we do it’s rarely enough.
The British Association of Dermatologists recommends half a teaspoon of sunscreen for your face and neck. It might be handy to actually crack out a teaspoon (at least while you’re getting the hang of it) so you can get a proper measure. Research found that 46% of Brits don’t apply enough sun cream to their arms (which we assumed was the easiest bit to cover, honestly).
The recommended amount is one teaspoon for each, which equates to a dollop around the length of the tip of your index finger from your first knuckle to the tip You need to rub in one teaspoon of sunscreen to each leg – so reserve two teaspoons’ worth for your pair of pins. As another way to eyeba.
