Most of us know that we should apply sunscreen before heading outdoors, right? It’s advice that’s repeated over and over to ensure that we all take the necessary precautions. However, far fewer realize that a single application isn’t enough to last the day. The question is, how often to reapply sunscreen to stay protected?
Whether you’re spending time at the beach or working outside, sun protection wears off faster than you think. Sweat, water, friction, and time all reduce the effectiveness of your sunscreen, leaving your skin vulnerable without visible warning signs.
In this short guide, we answer this question in some detail, so you can make smarter decisions every time you step into the sun. Are you ready? Then we’ll begin.
How Often to Reapply Sunscreen? Every Two Hours, Minimum
The answer to how often to reapply sunscreen is pretty straightforward – it’s every two hours, minimum.
Sunscreen doesn’t stay effective forever. The sun gradually breaks it down on your skin, with sweat, water, and even friction from clothing or towels eroding its effectiveness even further. That means even high-SPF products can lose their protective ability quicker than you might expect.
If you’re sweating because of exercise or hard work, swimming, or toweling off, sunscreen can come off pretty much immediately and needs to be reapplied right away. Even water-resistant formulas are only rated for 40 to 80 minutes under those conditions, so if you’re active or near water, that two-hour rule shortens fast.
Making Reapplication Easier
Why do people forget to reapply sunscreen? Well, the main reason people don’t reapply sunscreen when they’re supposed to is simple: they forget. However, forgetting often comes down to inconvenience, not laziness, meaning that if you can make reapplication easier, you’re that much more likely to stick to your sun safety schedule. Basically, it’s all about removing friction points from your day.
Start with how much you use: a full-body application should be about a shot-glass worth (roughly one ounce). Stick to easy-to-reach formats like sprays, sticks, or lightweight lotions that are quick to apply without needing a mirror. If you’re using a spray, rub it in for even coverage, especially around exposed edges like the shoulders and neck.
Other ways to make sure you’re properly protected include:
- Cover small areas that burn quickly, like ears, the back of the neck, the tops of your feet, and the backs of your hands
- Set a two-hour timer when you’re spending long periods outdoors on your phone and make sure the alarm is turned up so you can hear it.
- Keep your sunscreen close and easy to reach, in your bag or jacket pocket.
- Treat reapplication like a water break: quick, automatic, and part of your routine.
These methods are nice and simple and will ensure that you don’t forget to protect your skin. They require minimal effort, too, so there’s no reason not to take these steps.
How Often to Reapply Sunscreen? At Least Every 2 Hours
You don’t need a complicated routine to stay protected from the sun – just a consistent one. Sunscreen only works if you use it the way it’s intended: generously, regularly, and on all exposed skin. A single application in the morning won’t get you through the day, especially on long, hot days outside.
Try and treat reapplication as part of ‘showing up’ for your skin. It’s a five-minute habit that protects you, and the more automatic it becomes, the less likely you are to end up having to apply aftersun to a completely avoidable bout of sunburn.
