Sunscreen application is a subject very dear to my heart. I am a firm advocate of using sunscreen everyday whether you leave the house or not. UVA rays are everywhere! I am also getting particular about the types of sunscreen or sunblock I use – broad spectrum that protects against UVA and UVB is the way to go these days. You can expect a few posts about the sun and sunscreen coming up. 🙂
Based on my personal experience, here are 7 parts of the body we tend to forget to apply sunscreen or sunblock on.
1. Apply sunscreen on the neck
Hands up everyone who forgets the neck? *sheepishly puts hands up* I’m perfectly guilty of forgetting to apply sunscreen on my neck. Many women tend to wear shirts or t-shirts that gape at the neck thereby exposing the neck and decolletege area to more sun. Is it any wonder our neck ages faster than our face? So, remember your neck the next time you apply sunscreen on your face.
2. Apply sunscreen on the back of the neck
Hair blocks the sunrays but not the UV rays. So, whether you have long hair or short hair, try to remember to apply sunscreen on the BACK of your neck. Tell this to the men in your life too. They are even more susceptible to the sun for those with short hair. Be warned though that sunscreen can stain shirt collars so you might end up with extra cleaning to do.
3. Use a lipbalm with sunscreen
Lips. How often do we forget them when it comes to applying sunscreen? I’m guilty of this too but I’m looking for a lip balm that contains a decent amount of sunscreen. I don’t fancy EATING the sunscreen I presently use for the rest of my face 🙂
4. Apply sunblock on your arms legs and hands
You might remember this if you are going swimming or to the beach but you may omit it for everyday use. Well, don’t! You don’t want to look young and lovely on your face but have leathery skin on your arms and legs right? Nothing tells age more than the hands and skin on the arms so shield them while you can before the damage sets in.
5. Apply more sunscreen on your nose
If you’ve ever had a sunburn you’d realise that it always starts with your nose. Reason: Its the highest part of your face. So, apply more sunscreen on your nose to protect it better.
6. Don’t forget the scalp
If you’re bald that is. I doubt many of my readers are bald 😀 but if you know someone who is, slap on the sunblock on their bald scalp. Its an easy part of the body to forget.
7. Did you remember your ears?
Ears – another part of the body we ignore when it comes to sunscreen application. For most of us, our ears are hidden under our hair so its easy to forget but try to remember the next time you apply sunscreen on your face.
I use different sunscreens for my face and for my body mainly because of the different textures that I prefer. I use lighter textures for my face e.g. Eucerin White Solution and Sunplay Skin Aqua UV Moisture Milk and I don’t mind thicker textures for my body e.g. Australia Cancer Council Everyday sunscreen or Ultra sunscreen.
So next time you slap on your sunblock, think about the rest of your body that you are ignoring and pay attention to them. Its not just your face that needs the protection!
Now tell me, out of the 7 above, which part are you guilty of forgetting to apply sunscreen on?
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
I’m guilty of all the above *grin*
Hey Sylvia
Sigh… me too despite my reminder haha…
I’m only guilty of not applying any on the scalp, just because it’s a pain to have to wash the sunblock out of the hair later 😛 Funny I don’t remember any hair product with sunscreen in them. Some one should come up with one, I’d get it.
The whole neck, arms, ears; I remember to do it half the time. Nose is not a huge deal if there’s sunblock in the make up, no?
The lipbalm for me is a must. I’m using the non-tinted LipIce balm – it’s got SPF 15 and it’s the only one which doesn’t give me a weird reaction.
Hi Synical
Thats very dilligent of you! I won’t do the scalp too unless I’m bald haha
ooops. i am guilty of forgetting my ears. but i never forget neck or back of the neck! and yeah i believe u are a strong advocate. u have a neck that matches your face! *jealous jealous*
Hey prettybeautiful
LOL… I think now’s a good time to thank my mum 🙂 Perhaps you’d have a face that matches your neck too if you keep at it!
oops i’m guilty of not applying sunscreen on the scalp, ears and the back of my neck.. next time when i shave my hair off, i’ll make sure to apply some 😛
Hi Shuu
The scalp only applies if you’re bald or know someone who’s bald. Otherwise just wear a hat – that’s what I do.
I LOL-ed at the scalp one. Haha I can just imagine someone rubbing sunblock all over his shiny head. You definitely should apply sunblock if you’re bald though! It’s closest to the sun. Imagine a wrinkly scalp….
Okay I’m guilty of everything. I’m going to start applying to my neck (and back) as well as my ears. And get some lipbalm with spf too. Btw, Kiehl’s has one with SPF 15, and I think banana boat has one with spf20 or 30? but it’s in stick form.
Oh, I always forget about my ears! thanks for the reminder!
This is such a good reminder especially applying on the neck, scalp (i’m not bald, but useful information) and ears.
I usually apply on face, arms and legs but not to other areas. Thanks so much!
Hey Traclyn
LOL… I figured any bald person stumbling on this might appreciate the reminder 😉 I keep preaching legs but I keep forgetting 😛
I’m guilty of everything else except 1-3…hehe…but yes, the arms and legs are sadly neglected, and it’s starting to show!! 🙁
Hi Beetrice
I was particular about my arms but am only now working on the neck. Don’t want to look old turkey 🙂 Never too late to start!
Ah I too blogged about this 😛 Was gonna post in a few weeks haha. I pretty much wrote all those points except the nose haha. Great post!
Renee
Hi Renee
Great minds! 🙂 Will be happy to read your tips too !
I always try to put sunscreen on the backs of my hands. I don’t want to end up looking like so many Hollywood Stars with a young looking face but craggy old hands! Thanks for the awesome review!
Hi Elvira
You’re right about the hands. I usually spread some on after I finish slapping them onto my arms so I guess I’m doing it too just unconsciously 🙂
How about the feet? It’s definitely an area that needs protection since most ladies wear open toes and sandals these days.
Hey Sesame
You’re right, I did not think of the feet 🙂 I guess that’d make it 8 parts of the body we tend to forget to put sunscreen on!
My ears are easily forgotten-Good reminder PB!
Hey Monstro
You’re welcome and I still keep forgetting!
I will put on my legs and feet if I go to the beach. Or else will get those ugly slipper lines.
Even though I often wear skirts to work, I find that my legs are actually a lot whiter than my arms.
Hi pf1123
I do tend to forget my legs and feet. Thankfully I don’t go to the beach often LOL… That said, my legs are whiter too!
i m guilty of 3 above, not too bad right? but i don think i will consider scalp as my area of application at all!lol
HI PB, we were discussing this same topic among the girls during our last trip to beach. 🙂 One more thing I’d like to add about the part on limbs, we tend to slap on sunblock on flexor parts (inner side) but forget the extensor e.g. elbows, knees which are exposed more. And credit to you on the reminder of the neck part! 🙂 Thanks!
I found this post very interesting.
I honestly never thought to apply on any of the body parts mentioned except arms & legs when I go swimming.
How about sunscreen on the eye area? Is it necessary?
Hi Jennifer
If you can find something light enough to use around the eyes then yes. I haven’t but that’s a valid point to note! Thanks
When do we slab on sunscreen?
After moisturizing or before?
Hi Laine
Sunscreen goes on after moisturizer. Its the last thing you put on your skin.
I suggest Celeteque’s Sun Care Lip Balm. SPF 15 and has mulberry extract for moisture. Unlike my previous lip balm (Body Shop’s Vanilla Spice Lip Balm), this one is easier to apply (glides smoothly on my lips) and I like the texture (quite similar to a petroleum jelly).