How much sunscreen you should use and how often to apply it

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But with different brands, SPFs, formulas, and methods of applying, it can be difficult to decipher just how much sunscreen you need to keep protected from the sun’s strong rays. Sunscreen sprays are often considered less of a hassle than lotions, but it also means you need to be especially careful when applying in order to get the full SPF amount – and to keep from missing a spot on your body. open image in gallery New research suggests sunscreen is prohibitively expensive ) The necessary amount of coverage for a spray suncreen to be effective requires at least six seconds of spraying in each spot – roughly four seconds more than most people use.