You Missed A Spot: The Top 4 Places You’re Forgetting SPF

Applying a broad-spectrum SPF every day should be habitual, something that we do after we moisturize and before we apply our makeup. But, even for those of us who never skip a sunscreen application, we may be skipping a very important step—four important steps, to be exact. According to Skincare.com expert and celebrity facialist Mzia Shiman even the most dedicated sunscreen wearers can often overlook their lips, ears, neck, and, toes. Want to better protect these often-forgotten areas? Read on!

Lips have almost no melanin—the pigment responsible for protecting our skin from UV damage—so it’s important to protect your pout with broad-spectrum SPF. When shopping for an SPF to use on your lips, you want to look for a gel-based lip sunscreen or lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. And, when it comes to reapplying, you should do so liberally. While you’re in the sun, re-apply at least once each hour and again after eating, swimming, or sweating.

When you’re applying SPF to your face, don’t forget your ears—especially if you aren’t wearing a hat to cover them from the sun’s harmful rays. Use a higher SPF since the skin on your ears is more delicate. We like La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios 60. It quickly absorbs, has a weightless texture, and a matte finish so you won’t have to worry about your hair getting greasy if you’re wearing it down.

Applying sunscreen to your neck is equally as important as applying it to your face. Extend the same SPF-packed sunscreen you use on your face to your neck next time you apply.

Remembering to apply sunscreen to your feet can be a tough one. As a basic rule of thumb, if you plan to wear sandals or run around barefoot, you should apply sunscreen freely to your entire foot, not just the tops, and don’t skip out on your toes!

Next time you are gearing up for a day outdoors, make a mental checklist when applying sunscreen to help you remember these easy-to-skip spots.