We’ve always known that sunscreen is important, but if the recent innovations in the world of SPF formulas and the rising number of skin cancer cases across the country have taught us anything, it’s that it is more important than ever to take sun protection seriously. It’s no longer enough to just wear SPF when you’re at the beach—proper sun care has to be a priority every day.
While many of us in the beauty world and beyond know the “two finger rule” when it comes to face sunscreen—you need at least two finger lengths’ worth of sunscreen to protect your whole face—I found myself wondering lately how much SPF we should be applying to our bodies. If you have the same question, keep reading to hear what experts have to say about proper body SPF application.
Featured Experts
- Marisa Garshick, MD is a dermatologist in New York.
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a dermatologist in Omaha, NE
How Much SPF Do You Need to Apply to Your Arms, Legs and Stomach?
When you’re at the beach or poolside, you’re likely eager to take a dip and not thinking too much about your exact SPF application (I too have fallen victim to the haphazard spray that ends in splotchy burns). To ensure you’re applying the right amount of sunscreen to your arms, legs and stomach, Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD recommends using the shot-glass method.
“Most people need at least one and a half ounces of sunscreen—the size of a shot glass—to appropriately cover their body,” Dr. Schlessinger says. New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD agrees, saying that “for the face, we recommend the two finger rule, and for the body it’s about one ounce or enough to fill a shot glass.”
How Much SPF Do You Need to Apply to Your Face, Neck and Chest?
While we know that the face warrants at least two fingers worth of sunscreen, what about the neck and décolletage? According to Dr. Schlessinger, “for the face, neck, and chest, I recommend a half dollar-sized amount of sunscreen.”
So, to recap, starting with the face you need two finger lengths. Moving down to the neck and décolletage, apply a half dollar-sized dollop. From the chest down, make sure you have enough to fill a shot glass.
Body Sunscreens to Try
Now that you know how much SPF you need to be applying to your body, check out some of our favorite body sunscreen formulas to keep your skin protected, hydrated and glowing all summer long.
Key Ingredients
Zinc oxide, vitamins C and E, coconut fruit extract, aloe vera, glycerin
Free From
Fragrance, parabens, dyes
Key Ingredients
Cell-Ox Shield Technology, vitamin E, glycerin, vitamin B5
Free From
Oils, fragrance, oxybenzone
Key Ingredients
Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, 100 percent organic coconut oil
Key Ingredients
Coconut oil, aloe vera, banana extract, niacinamide, vitamin E
Free From
Oxybenzone, parabens, octinoxate
