Why I Still Got Burnt Using the Best Mineral Sunscreen
I’ve always been pretty diligent when it comes to health matters meaning that sun protection was particularly high on my list of priorities. After reading a super-interesting article on sunscreen, I found out about the many benefits of the best mineral sunscreen from companies like Blue Lizard.
It convinced me to make the switch to zinc oxide-based products for myself and my family and I used one for my sun protection needs for a fishing trip I went on shortly after. Unfortunately, I was surprised to find that I experienced quite bad sunburn at the end of the first day. So, what was I doing wrong?
Naturally, I did some more research and it turned out that I’d not quite been using my mineral sunscreen properly. I don’t want anyone else to fall into the same pitfalls, so in this article, I’ll be covering those little details that I missed the first time around.
The Mistakes I Made Using the Best Mineral Sunscreen
I found out the hard way that even when you’re using the best mineral sunscreen, there are certain rules that you need to follow in order to get the best from the product. Here’s a brief rundown of the mistakes I made that you don’t have to.
I Wasn’t Reapplying Often Enough
The first mistake I made was to assume that just one application of sunscreen in the morning would protect me all day. Mineral sunscreens provide great protection, but they still wear off, especially if you’re sweating, swimming, or just spending long hours in direct sunlight. I was spending hours outside without reapplying, and that’s a recipe for sunburn.
Lesson Learnt: All sunscreens need to be reapplied every 2 hours, always.
I Didn’t Use Enough Sunscreen
It also turns out that I was being way too stingy with my sunscreen. I thought a little bit would go a long way, but the old adage that ‘less is more’ most certainly does not apply to sun protection. If you skimp on application, you’re simply leaving yourself susceptible to sunburn, so don’t be shy!
Lesson learned: You should use at least a shot glass full of mineral sunscreen for your whole body.
I Missed Some Key Areas
I’ll admit that I was less than conscientious when it came to covering every square inch of exposed skin on my fishing trip. That’s why I missed common spots like the top of my ears and the back of my neck. My buddy even had sunburn on his bald spot! I can tell you now that sunburn in these areas can be unbelievably painful.
Lesson learned: Always carefully consider every part of your skin that’s going to be exposed to the sun when you’re out and apply sunscreen to the area.
I Overestimated my SPF 30 Protection
I chose an SPF 30 product for my fishing trip and while this strength of sunscreen is typically fine for most scenarios, I really should have used something a bit stronger for being outside for 8 or 9 hours at a time. In retrospect, I should have used an SPF 50 for such an occasion. Maybe then I wouldn’t have gotten burnt.
Lesson Learned: Choose at least an SPF 50 if you’re going into intense sunlight or spending all day out in the sunshine.
I Still Use the Best Mineral Sunscreen Everywhere I Go
As you can see, I made a bunch of mistakes and I paid for it with soreness that lasted over a week! However, that hasn’t happened since, as I now know exactly what to do when I’m headed outside for a prolonged period of time. Once I became used to it, I found mineral sunscreen to be great at keeping my skin safe in the sun – and I still use it today.
Just remember to use at least an SPF 30, reapply it every two hours and pay attention to the areas that often get missed.Do that and you’ll be fine.
