Sunscreen is one of the absolute summer essentials to protect your skin from UV radiation. After all, this can promote skin aging and lead to serious damage. To ensure your skin is properly protected all day long, you should reapply sunscreen regularly. But how often should you reapply it? You'll find out that and more here!
How Often Should You Reapply Sunscreen?
Especially if you sweat, go swimming, or have dried yourself off, you should reapply sunscreen. Even water-resistant products are no longer effective then.
In general, you should reapply sunscreen every two hours to maintain protection. Reapplying does not extend the protection, but only maintains it!
Why Do You Need to Reapply Sunscreen?
Especially in summer, when you sweat a lot, exercise outdoors, or go swimming, sun protection is reduced. To keep your skin protected, you should reapply sunscreen immediately afterward or every two hours.
However, reapplying does not extend the protective effect each time – the duration you can stay in the sun with UV protection remains the same.
Does Reapplying Extend Sun Protection?
No, sun protection is not extended by reapplying. The protection merely remains intact. How high your protection is depends not only on the SPF of your sunscreen but also on your skin's natural protection.
Depending on your skin type, your natural protection time is higher or lower, so you can stay in the sun longer or shorter with sun protection. If you multiply the SPF you use by your natural protection time, you get the maximum duration you should stay in the sun – to avoid risking sunburn and other skin damage.
Celtic Type:
- Very fair skin, often with freckles
- Red to reddish-blonde hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 10 minutes
- Skin does not tan
- SPF 50+ is recommended
Nordic Type:
- Fair skin, often with freckles
- Blonde to brown hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 20 minutes
- Skin tans little to moderately
- SPF 30 to 50+ is recommended
Mixed Type:
- Fair to light brown skin, freckles are rather rare
- Dark blonde to brown hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 30 minutes
- Skin tans well
- SPF 30 to 50+ is recommended
Mediterranean Type:
- Light brown, olive-toned skin, without freckles
- Dark brown hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 50 minutes
- Skin tans quickly and deeply
- SPF 30 is recommended
Dark Type:
- Dark brown skin
- Dark brown to black hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 60 minutes
- Existing tan does not deepen
- SPF 20 is recommended
Black Type:
- Dark brown to black skin
- Black hair
- Natural protection time is approx. 60 to 90 minutes
- Existing tan does not deepen
- SPF 10 to 15 is recommended
Those who prefer not to apply sunscreen in order to get a deep tan also risk sunburn and other skin damage. In our blog post about Tanning despite sunscreen: Is that possible? you can learn more about the topic!
How Much Sunscreen Should You Use When Reapplying?
According to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), adults should use four heaped tablespoons of sunscreen for the body to achieve the stated SPF. For the face, you should apply two finger-lengths of the product.
Even when reapplying, you should use this amount of sunscreen to ensure protection.
Which Sunscreen Is Suitable for Reapplying?
Geek & Gorgeous – Zero Feel SPF 50
12,90 €
with the code
-0%
Latest lowest price: 12,90 €
(Prices incl. VAT, plus shipping)
NERDS. – Lightweight Hydrate UV Defense Lotion SPF50
17,90 €
with the code
-100%
Latest lowest price: 17,89 €
(Prices incl. VAT, plus shipping)
Beauty of Joseon – Relief Sun: Rice + Probiotics
25,90 €
with the code
-0%
Latest lowest price: 24,54 €
(Prices incl. VAT, plus shipping)
Bondi Sands – SPF 50+ Everyday Body Lotion
12,90 €
with the code
-0%
Latest lowest price: 9,67 €
(Prices incl. VAT, plus shipping)
Reapplying Sunscreen Over Makeup – Is That Possible?
You should definitely apply sunscreen before your makeup to protect your skin from UV radiation. It's best to wait a few minutes between the two layers so that the sunscreen can properly absorb into your skin and the texture doesn't pill.
Light sun sprays are suitable for reapplying, as are tinted formulas that you can gently apply to your face with a makeup sponge. Ideally, on such sunny days, you should avoid powder makeup so that the textures harmonize well together.
The Pureest Solutions – 50+ SPF UVA/UVB Blemish Defense Tinted Antioxidant Protection Sunscreen
Bali Body – Tinted Super Serum SPF 30
Common Mistakes When Reapplying Sunscreen
- too little product: Make sure to use about four heaped tablespoons of product for the body and two finger-lengths for the face. Only then is the SPF guaranteed.
- reapplying too rarely: After sweating, swimming, or drying off, but at the latest after two hours, you should reapply sunscreen.
- underestimating the sun: Even if it's cloudy or even in winter: You should use sunscreen every day.
- forgetting other UV protection measures: Nevertheless, it's best to stay in the shade and especially protect your head with a hat or cap to prevent sunburn on the scalp or sunstroke.
I hope these tips have helped you! Please let me know if you have any further comments or questions.
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