We all hear over and over again that we need to wear sunscreen on our faces daily – all year round, regardless of the weather. The number one reason is to prevent skin damage and ageing.

Did you know that you can actually make you sunscreen less effective if you do these?

1. Mix it with self-tan. Many want to stay bronzed all year round, or especially go for a tan before going on holiday. Here’s the issue: fake tanning and sunscreen do not mix. At all. DHA (the active ingredient in fake tan which makes skin brown) really undermines UVA protection.
2. Applying skincare products on top. There is some debate among dermatologists as to whether you should apply sunscreen before or after moisturiser. More seem to believe that it should go on last. When moisturiser is applied after sunscreen, it can actually change the properties of your sunscreen. It’s also important to keep foundation or other makeup separate from sunscreen. Mixing the two together may dilute the SPF. Layering ensures that each maintains its power.
3. Not applying enough. Whether you use a spray or cream, you’re probably not applying enough sunscreen. Ensuring every inch of visible skin is covered in an even layer is essential. It’s not easy, but it will protect you. You know you’ve had those moments when you haven’t applied it properly and you have these red finger marks where you missed parts of your skin. Apply 2 teaspoons full of sunscreen if you’re just covering the head, arms, and neck. If you’re tanning in a swimsuit, up that to two tablespoons to adequately cover your entire body.
4. Missing vital parts of your body. Studies found that people were tending to miss 11% of their face when applying sunscreen. Typically, participants left out the area around the eyes and on the eyelids. It’s rather worrying as these areas have pretty thin skin and are therefore more susceptible to sun damage. Other places missed are the ears, lips, hands, neck, and feet, reports  Oh, and don’t forget to spritz your scalp too, because sunburn on the top of your head damn well hurts.
5. Forgetting to reapply. You should be reapplying every 2 hours. If you go swimming, re-apply as soon as you get out of the water. The same goes for any sweaty scenarios. Another thing to note is that towels and sunscreen are not friends. There’s no such thing as a completely towel-proof sunscreen, so as you dry off, you’re most likely removing what’s on your skin.