“This way there’s no hole”: the dermatologist reveals her precise gesture for applying sun cream with no forgotten areas.

With temperatures rising and the sun increasingly present, protecting your skin from UV rays is becoming a daily priority. However, having the right sun cream in your kit isn’t enough: you also need to know how to apply it correctly to benefit from truly even protection, with no forgotten areas.

Why the gesture of application makes all the difference

We often think that choosing a high sun protection factor guarantees good protection. However, even a broad-spectrum SPF 50 product can leave exposed areas if poorly applied. Accelerated skin ageing and the risk of skin cancer are directly linked to insufficient or poorly distributed protection.

Dermatologist and venereologist Marina Alexandre shares a simple, yet highly effective, tip to avoid missing any zone. It’s based on a principle that many people neglect on a daily basis: the direction in which you spread the product.

In her opinion, sun cream and suntan lotion are particularly suitable formats, as they enable the dose applied to be accurately quantified. The reference rule is 2 mg per square centimeter of skin. Choosing a fluid or creamy texture makes it easier to respect this precise dose.

The two-coat technique for the face

The dermatologist’s secret can be summed up in one word: cross application directions. For the face, she never applies both coats in the same direction.

For the first layer, she starts from the center of the face and spreads outwards. Naturally, more product is deposited in the center than on the periphery. The second coat corrects this: it starts from the hairline and works back towards the center of the face.

“My first layer, I start from the center of the face and spread outwards. And when I do my second application, on the contrary, I start from the hairline and work my way back towards the center of the face. That way, there are no gaps.”

This crossing of directions ensures uniform coverage. No area is left unprotected, even often neglected contours such as the temples or the perimeter of the chin.

For the body, the technique is exactly the same. The dermatologist explains that she starts from the top of the thigh towards the feet for the first layer, then works backwards upwards for the second. In this way, each area receives two crossed passes.

• Apply in two crossed coats, never in the same direction.
• On the face: work from the center outwards, then from the hairline towards the center.
• On the body: go down from the top of the thigh to the feet, then back up.
• Respect the recommended dose of 2 mg per square centimetre.
• Use a sun cream or lotion to better quantify the amount applied.

How often should I renew my sun protection?

Applying sunscreen properly in the morning is a good starting point. However, this is not enough if you are exposed to the sun for a long time. The frequency of reapplication varies according to the context of exposure.

When exposed to direct sunlight, dermatologist Marina Alexandre recommends reapplying every two hours. The reason is simple: the sun filter is gradually consumed over time. If you don’t reapply, you’ll find yourself unprotected without realizing it.

At the beach or pool, the rule changes slightly. You need to reapply the product after each swim, as water accelerates filter degradation, even on a water-resistant product.

In town, the rules are different

In an urban environment, exposure to UV rays is still present, but much less intense than outdoors. If you’ve applied sunscreen in the morning and haven’t had much sun exposure during the day, you don’t need to reapply every two hours, says the dermatologist.

On the other hand, if you spend a lot of time on the terrace or are exposed to the sun, it’s best to adapt the frequency of application. A sun spray can also come in handy for quick reapplication during the day, over make-up, for example.

Choosing the right size of sun protection for your application

Beyond the gesture, the chosen format plays a role in ease of application and daily use. Sun creams and milks are still the most precise formats for correctly dosing the product. As a result, they are often recommended for complete application in the morning.

Sprays, on the other hand, are practical for reapplication during the day, particularly on make-up that has already been applied or on children at the beach. Sticks, on the other hand, are more suitable for targeted areas such as the ears, hands or lips – at-risk areas often overlooked during the sun protection stage.

What’s more, whatever texture you choose, the most important thing is to reapply according to your level of exposure. A product that is well chosen, but poorly or too infrequently applied, offers far less protection than that indicated on the packaging.

• sun cream