Short answer: Sunscreen works as one part of a wider plan. In the United States, the directions on a Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher pair it with other sun protection measures: limiting time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Shade helps too, and some UV passes through glass. Clothing and hats may still leave areas exposed, which is where daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, applied and reapplied according to its label, comes in. Each measure covers gaps the others leave.
The sunscreen package itself presents sunscreen as one layer among several, and each of the others is practical to add.
Timing and shade
UV is most intense around the middle of the day. Dermatologists offer a quick check: if your shadow is shorter than you are, look for shade. Cool or cloudy days can still bring plenty of UV, so the temperature is not a reliable guide.
Shade from a tree, an umbrella or an awning cuts down direct sun, but it does not remove UV altogether. Water, sand, snow and some surrounding surfaces can reflect UV, adding to your overall exposure. This can matter around swimming pools, at the beach, on open water and in snowy environments. Sun-safety guidance is to keep using sunscreen and protective clothing in the shade as well, so count shade as one more layer rather than the whole plan.
Clothing
Clothing does not wear off the way sunscreen can, which makes it a practical layer for the skin it covers. How much a fabric protects varies.
Weave. Tightly woven fabric generally protects more than a loose or open weave such as lace.
Color. Darker colors generally offer more protection than lighter ones.
Dry or wet. Dry fabric protects more than wet fabric, which matters at the pool and the beach.
The label. Some clothing carries a UPF, or ultraviolet protection factor, a rating of how well the fabric blocks UV. Where protection matters, a UPF label gives you something to go by.
Even well-chosen clothing leaves some skin uncovered, often the face, the neck and the backs of the hands.
Hats and sunglasses
A hat with a wide brim all the way around shades the face, the ears and the back of the neck. A baseball cap shades the forehead but leaves the ears and neck in the sun, and straw hats with holes in the weave let sun through. A brim also cannot stop UV reflected up from water or sand.
Sunglasses are on the label’s list too. Choose a pair that blocks both UVA and UVB. Larger or wraparound frames protect more than small lenses.
Glass, cars and windows
Ordinary window glass generally filters out UVB, the rays mainly behind sunburn, while letting much of the UVA through. UVA contributes to skin aging, and both kinds of UV can contribute to skin cancer. How much UV a pane lets through depends on the type of glass, its color, any layer between panes and any coating or film.
Cars vary too. In one study of 29 cars measured in Los Angeles, the windshields consistently filtered most UVA, while the side windows filtered less and varied widely from car to car. A long daily drive with sun on a side window means regular exposure for the arm, hand and side of the face nearest the glass. UVA vs UVB: What Each Does to Your Skin explains the two kinds of light, and Do You Need Sunscreen Every Day? covers sun that reaches you indoors.
Where sunscreen fits
Clothing and hats may leave areas exposed, often the face, ears, neck and the backs of the hands. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen covers that skin. A Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, used as directed with other sun protection measures, decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.
Follow the label for how much to apply, how to apply it and when to reapply, including any directions for swimming, sweating or towel drying. SPF is not a measure of minutes: SPF 30 does not mean 30 minutes of protection. Applying too little can reduce protection, and applying more at once does not replace reapplying. How Much Sunscreen to Use, and When to Reapply has more detail.
The backs of the hands collect sun on every drive and are easy to miss. Why Hands Can Show Age So Easily, and What Helps explains why that shows.
Victoria’s approach
Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator. She draws on her professional experience at Younger You Clinique when evaluating skincare products and their performance. Her own routine shows how these layers fit into an ordinary day. Victoria applies daily broad-spectrum sunscreen to the backs of her hands, and she keeps lightweight linen gloves and a lightweight white shirt in the car. When driving, she wears the shirt over sleeveless tops to help cover her arms and uses the gloves for her hands, alongside sunscreen. These are her personal habits, described without any protection rating, and not a rule for anyone else.
Esenté offers two sunscreens: Derma-Defense SPF 30 in the Legacy Skincare collection and Derma Defense Z-Cote SPF30 in the Elite Skincare collection. Both are labeled Broad Spectrum SPF 30, and both are untinted. They are examples, not the only suitable choices; the right sunscreen is one that suits your skin, fits your budget and that you will use every day. Follow the label directions for whichever you use, including reapplication. For help fitting sun protection into the rest of your routine, you can Ask Victoria.
Frequently asked questions
The Directions on a Broad Spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher list limiting time in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats and sunglasses. Shade adds another layer.
It protects the skin it covers, and fabrics vary. Tightly woven, darker and dry fabrics generally protect more, and a UPF on the label gives you a rating to go by.
One with a wide brim all the way around, shading your face, ears and the back of your neck. Baseball caps leave the ears and neck exposed.
Yes. Windshields generally filter most UVA, while side windows vary widely from car to car, so long drives with sun on a side window add up.
Shade reduces direct sun, but reflected UV from water, sand, snow and some surrounding surfaces can still add to your exposure. Keep using appropriate sun protection in the shade too.
Yes, on whatever they leave uncovered, often the face, ears, neck and backs of the hands. Apply and reapply according to the label.
About the author. Victoria Nash, founder of Esenté Skincare, has been a licensed aesthetician since 2003. She also owns and operates Younger You Clinique and is an experienced skincare educator.
Reviewed by Victoria Nash, licensed aesthetician, founder of Esenté Skincare and owner of Younger You Clinique. This article is educational and is not medical advice. Ask your dermatologist or licensed skincare professional about products appropriate for your own skin and medical history.
