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MAKE SPF A DAILY ROUTINE 23. WHEN TO APPLY SPF sunscreen should always be the very last step of a skin-care routine before makeup, Yadav says. “It acts like a shield, protecting everything

underneath. Also, if you were to apply it first, the subsequent application of your other products could cause the sunscreen to move around on your skin, rendering it less effective.

Generally, I recommend that people apply skin-care products from thinnest to thickest — and sunscreen is usually on the thicker end of the daily products most people use.” 24. DO THE MATH

Layering sunscreens is not additive, and “your level of protection will be equivalent to the highest SPF of the products being applied,” says Jamal. This means that if you’re wearing a

moisturizer with SPF 20, a sunscreen with SPF 30 and a foundation with SPF 20, your level of protection is 30, not 70. Jamal says layering multiple products does make it more likely that you

are applying the correct amount of sunscreen, since most people tend to underapply. 25. INCORPORATE SPF-MAKEUP HYBRIDS Bringing SPF-makeup hybrids into your beauty routine can offer

additional layers of protection. It’s important to note, however, that most makeup products containing SPF won’t offer adequate protection, because the user typically won’t apply enough

product. Naana Boakye, M.D., a dermatologist at Bergen Dermatology in New Jersey, says we need 2 milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin. This means you’d have to use layer

upon layer of makeup to ensure sufficient protection, which the average person wouldn’t normally wear. To ensure maximum protection, you shouldn’t rely on SPF makeup products as your sole

source of protection. Rather, always apply a traditional SPF sunscreen, and think of any SPF makeup product as the cherry on top. 26. WEAR SUNSCREEN INDOORS HEV (high-energy visible) light

comes from computers, smartphones, tablets, lighting and other digital electronics. Blue light from a computer is HEV light, says Jeanine Downie, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New

Jersey. “This is also emitted by your phone, tablet and Apple watch,” she says. While research shows that HEV light does not cause skin cancer or sunburn, it can induce uneven skin and

hyperpigmentation (dark spots and melasma). “Progressive damage from HEV light can lead to dark spots and photodamage,” adds Downie, who recommends wearing sun protection even when you are

indoors. Gunnell explains that “most American sunscreens do not protect against HEV at all. Only tinted products that contain iron oxide can do this — and you have to be able to see the

tint, so it looks like makeup, essentially. None of the chemical UV filters in our country have a sufficient spectrum to protect against very long UVA and visible light. Sunscreens approved

internationally absolutely protect in this range, but unfortunately these are not yet FDA-approved here.” Getty Images OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 27. BASEBALL HATS VERSUS SUN HATS “A baseball hat

won’t give you as much protection as a full sun hat,” says Hartman. Baseball hats will help protect against glare, but they really don’t do much else in terms of protecting your head, face

and ears from the sun. Hartman recommends choosing a hat with a wide brim that goes all the way around to protect your ears, face and neck. Be sure to pair that hat with sunscreen. 28.

SKIP THE SUNSCREEN SPRAYS While sunscreen sprays seem super convenient, many dermatologists recommend avoiding them due to the risk of lung irritation. Additionally, it can be difficult to

make sure you’re getting enough coverage. Plus, current FDA regulations on testing and standardization do not apply to spray sunscreens. If you do use a spray, hold your breath, never spray

near your face, and always apply it outdoors. Rub it in by hand to ensure an even application — your skin should be glistening. And you’ll still need to reapply every two hours. 29. SHAKE

THE BOTTLE WELL If you’re using a mineral sunscreen, you may notice it has a tendency to separate or settle at the bottom. That’s why the directions on many of these products recommend

shaking the bottle before applying. “All ingredients have different molecular weights and sizes, so you may need to give a little shake to incorporate all the ingredients and to make sure

they are distributed properly,” Fernandez says. “All of the molecules work together, so full protection can only come from complete application.” 30. BE AWARE OF EXPIRATION DATES Melissa

Urban, a licensed aesthetician at the SkinForYou spa in Colorado, says sunscreen often has two date markers. One reflects how long the product is good for after it’s been opened; it looks

like a container with its lid off, along with a number and an “M” next to it. For instance, if a product says “12M,” this means that once the container has been opened, the contents are good

for 12 months. The second common date marker is the product’s expiration date. Most sunscreens have a printed expiration date on the bottle itself or on the crimped part of the tube. “Once

this date has passed, the product may no longer produce effects that are true to its label, which is extremely important when we’re talking about sunscreen,” Urban warns. “If you’re applying

an SPF 50 and it’s past its expiration date, this product is no longer producing SPF 50 protection.” Jamal says the FDA requires that all sunscreens retain their efficacy for three years.

“If there is no expiration date, discard [it] three years after the purchase date,” she says. Regardless of the expiration date, always consider a product’s consistency, smell and color

change, and discard it if something seems off, Urban advises. 31. STAY OUT OF THE HEAT Fernandez says it’s not just sun exposure that can trigger melanocytes to hyperproduce and cause sun

damage or discoloration. Heat and other stimuli can be factors as well. “That’s why it’s important to keep your skin cool during the day: to avoid those triggers from causing more

pigmentation,” Fernandez says. 32. USE A COMBINATION FOR SUN PROTECTION Don’t rely on your sun umbrella to protect you from the sun. “While umbrellas may provide some level of protection,

research has shown that both UVA and UVB rays penetrate through the fabric and have the potential to burn,” Hartman says. “Use the combination of the umbrella, UPF [ultraviolet protection

factor] clothing, and sunscreen for the best overall protection.” 33. RESEARCH DRUG INTERACTIONS Many common medications can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight or increase your

chances of heat-related illness. That’s because they contain ingredients that may cause photosensitivity, according to the FDA. There are two types of photosensitivity reactions:

photoallergy, an allergic reaction, and phototoxicity, an irritation of the skin. Both types occur after exposure to UV light. Drugs that may increase sun sensitivity include NSAIDs (like

naproxen), anti-arrhythmics, the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, antifungals and antibiotics. Antidepressants, antihistamines and blood pressure medication also may increase heat sensitivity.

Not everyone will experience sun or heat sensitivity, however; check the FDA’s list and consult your health care professional or pharmacist. 34. AVOID PEAK HOURS The Environmental Protection

Agency says the sun’s peak hours, when UV rays are the strongest, are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Plan your daily walks and other outdoor activities before or after those hours. To learn

when UV rays will be the highest no matter what time of year it is, check a weather app or weather website for the UV index. It gauges unprotected risk from the sun on a scale of 1 to 11,

with midday hours typically showing a higher potential for damage. “Always use a combination of sun-protective strategies — clothing, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen — when the UV index is

greater than 2,” Gunnell says. 35. CLOUDY AND RAINY DAYS CAN DO DAMAGE, TOO We usually only think about sun protection when it’s sunny outside, but you can still get a sunburn when it’s

overcast and gray. In fact, clouds can sometimes increase, rather than reduce, the level of ultraviolet radiation. This phenomenon, called the “broken-cloud effect,” can result in higher UV

levels than on a perfectly cloudless day. While scientists don’t know why this happens, one theory is that UV rays bounce off clouds and are redirected, creating a combination of refraction

and reflection that could result in significantly greater UV strength at ground level. So even if you don’t see the sunlight hitting your skin, UV rays are still reaching it — which is why

you should apply sunscreen every day. 36. GET YOUR VITAMIN D LEVELS CHECKED Your body makes vitamin D when sunlight (UVB rays) hits the skin. Getting as little as 10 to 15 minutes of direct

sunlight a few days a week can provide us with most of the vitamin D our bodies need to maintain healthy bones, muscles and immune systems, while also protecting us from cognitive decline.

If you’re not getting enough sunshine, talk to your doctor about testing your vitamin D levels to find out if you should take a supplement. Dietary guidelines call for 600 international

units (IU) daily of vitamin D for people up to age 70, and 800 IU daily for those over age 70. Gunnell explains that “the American Academy of Dermatology does not consider any level of

unprotected sun exposure safe and does not recommend people get vitamin D through sun. It is well documented that since sunscreen does not 100 percent protect against UVB [the UV important

for vitamin D protection], many people can still have adequate vitamin D levels while using strict sun protection.” Getty Images MORE PROTECTIVE MEASURES 37. CONSIDER INSTALLING UVA

PROTECTION ON YOUR VEHICLE If you’ve ever driven for long stretches, you might have noticed that your left arm got more sun than your right, even with the windows rolled up. That’s because

most glass doesn’t hinder UVA rays. However, Yadav says that some car manufacturers, including Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis, offer vehicles with solar glass windows, also known as

infrared-reflective (IR) glass. “These windows help filter out infrared and UV light but allow visible light through. Genesis solar glass can block up to 98 percent of UV. These windows also

have the added benefit of keeping your car more comfortable, as infrared provides a lot of heat.” Safelite, a windshield replacement company, offers solar glass on certain car models.

Additionally, you can purchase UVA-protective film to add to your car, home or office. It’s effective for about a decade and can block up to 99.9 percent of UV radiation. 38. CONSIDER YOUR

ENTIRE SUN PROTECTION STRATEGY Sunscreen is just one part of blocking the sun’s harmful rays. It’s also important to seek shade, cover up with clothing and wear wide-brimmed hats as needed.

Driving gloves will help protect your hands from the sun’s harmful rays while you’re on the road. And you can wear a sun blanket made of UV-protective material while spending time outdoors.

39. WEAR DARK COLORS It may seem counterintuitive, especially on hot days, but dark blue, black and dark red are the best clothing colors for sun protection. That’s because darker colors

absorb the UV rays before they hit your skin. Thicker materials with a tighter weave will provide more protection than loose-weave or lightweight fabrics. You can also wear clothing with SPF

protection; look for an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of at least 30. 40. PROTECT YOUR EYES Excessive UV exposure can lead to cataracts. The American Optometric Association recommends

wraparound sunglasses that have 99 to 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Wearing a hat also protects your face, scalp and neck, the three areas that receive the most sun damage. Sunlight

can also worsen age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and raise your risk for skin cancer in the eye. 41. AVOID TANNING BEDS AND SUNLAMPS Both tanning beds and sunlamps give off UV

radiation and can cause skin cancer, skin burns and premature skin aging, as well as short-term and long-term eye damage. Avoiding both will reduce your skin cancer risk. Another light you

may be forgetting? The UV light you use to set your nails can cause the same kind of skin cancers that tanning beds and sunlamps do. So when using one, apply at least an SPF 30

broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen to your hands, or wear gloves with the tips cut off. 42. STOP SMOKING About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 86 percent of melanomas

have been linked to exposure to UV radiation from sunlight, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. But not all skin cancer is caused by the sun. Current smokers and heavy smokers were

associated with a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma. 43. SUPPLEMENTS MAY HELP Could popping a supplement help stave off nonmelanoma skin cancers? Nonmelanoma refers to types of cancer

that occur in the skin that are not melanoma, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. While more research is needed, a small study published in _American Health & Drug

Benefits_ found that nicotinamide, a vitamin B3 supplement, helped lower the rate of new squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers by 23 percent for high-risk individuals. It also lowered

the risk of precancerous actinic keratosis. Other supplements, including Polypodium leucotomos (Fernblock), and vitamins that may help include selenium, zinc, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty

acids, lycopene, polyphenols, and vitamins C, E and A. Gunnell urges caution, however, saying, “Most of these supplements have not been shown to prevent skin cancer or be sun-protective, or

there is conflicting data.” 44. DIET MAY HELP, TOO Tomatoes, nuts, seeds, and dark leafy green vegetables can help protect your skin from UV damage. Try to incorporate as many of them as

you can into your diet. 45. DIY SKIN FIXES FOR SUN DAMAGE Dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York

City, recently gave AARP some suggestions for repairing sun-damaged skin. He says pairing vitamin C serum with sunscreen can help neutralize sun damage and boost collagen. For best results,

layer the products: vitamin C serum first, then daily moisturizer, then sunscreen. Next, exfoliate weekly. Gently buff your skin with a chemical exfoliator-cleanser that contains glycolic

acid. Also, consider using serums or creams containing retinol, a vitamin A derivative that can help reverse sun damage. Be forewarned — it’s a known skin irritant, so you may want to try a

gentler peptide cream. Finally, don’t forget to treat the area around your eyes with products designed for that purpose.