Did you know that you can get a 50 percent decrease in the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, when sunscreen is applied daily? (Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology) We all know how important it is in preventing premature wrinkles but for the sake of your health, wearing sunscreen is a must.

Here’s four things you need to know about sunscreen to ensure you’re getting the best protection for your skin.

1. Apply your sunscreen generously. In order for SPF to truly protect the skin and prevent the harmful UV rays from damaging the skin, the formula has to be applied generously or it will not provide adequate protection.

2. High SPF does not mean high protection. With so many companies launching high SPF number sunscreens, it creates a lot of confusion as to which number is the best in protecting the skin. Did you know that an SPF 30 offers only 4% more protection than an SPF 15 and an SPF 45 offers just 2% more? High SPF number sunscreens like an SPF 50 or 100 can give people a false sense of protection and therefore may not be applied generously enough to do its job

3. Sunscreen built into your foundation makeup is not enough. If you apply a regular non-SPF moisturizer to the face and then apply a foundation with an SPF over it, the sunscreen in the makeup has a difficult time penetrating through the moisturizer to effectively coat and protect the skin cells. Try to use a sunscreen moisturizer directly on the skin first to adequately deliver the specified SPF and then apply foundation makeup with sunscreen.

4. Sunscreens degrade from sunlight and your skin’s natural oil. Many sunscreen formulas degrade with exposure to UV light. The daily oil produced on the skin (especially on the nose which is the oiliest area of the face) can also cause sunscreen to breakdown. This is why reapplying sunscreen every few hours is so necessary.

For more expert skin, beauty and wellness advice, keep up with our blog! Also sign up for our  e-newsletter, follow Planet Beach on Twitter and join the discussion on our Facebook page.