All the Major Places You're Forgetting to Apply Sunscreen

It’s more than likely you have a solid facial skin care regimen going, including a sunscreen formulated for your skin type. While making it a habit to apply Broad Spectrum SPF onto your face every single day is important, it’s essential to remember that there are other exposed areas of skin that need your SPF’s attention, too. If your sunscreen application pretty much stops at your jawline, it’s time for a change. We tapped into New York-based dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner to understand the common places we’re neglecting to slather on sunscreen. 

“We have mastered applying sunscreen on our faces, but often neglect our ears, hairline, hands, chest, and neck,” Dr. Zeichner says. “If these areas go unprotected while you have sunscreen on your face, you may tend to stay out in the sun with a false sense of security that you are fully protected. This puts those unprotected areas at even greater risk for sun damage.” Ready to break the habit? Below, we’ve rounded up the best sunscreens—from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands—to use on these oft-neglected areas of skin.

EARS

After you coat your face in a broad-spectrum sunscreen, extend your application to your ears. We recommend La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Ultra-Light SPF 60 Sunscreen. Keeping sensitive skin types in mind, this broad-spectrum sunscreen is water-resistant (for 80 minutes) and contains antioxidant protection.

Editor’s note: A 2007 study from the Skin Cancer Foundation found the ears as the third most frequent location for skin cancers. Despite popular belief, skin cancer can occur on any part of the ear so be sure to protect yours.

HANDS

Time can really take a toll on your hands. Don’t speed up the process by neglecting to apply sunscreen. We recommend turning to Lancôme’s Absolue Hand cream with SPF 15. Formulated with soy and sea algae, this cream helps improve the appearance of skin elasticity and firmness. As a result, you’ll be left with hands that are soft to the touch, and protected from the sun.

If these areas go unprotected while you have sunscreen on your face, you may tend to stay out in the sun with a false sense of security that you are fully protected. This puts those unprotected areas at even greater risk for sun damage.

HAIRLINE

People oftentimes forget to cover the area of the skin right along the hairline. Don’t stop at the middle of your forehead when applying sunscreen. Make it a habit of applying sunscreen up to the very edge of where the skin meets the hair. Opt for a sunscreen that keeps oily skin in mind to ensure you’ll get a nice, dry finish. Our pick? Vichy’s Capital Soleil SPF 45 Sunscreen. It’s an oil-free, non-comedogenic sunscreen that’s formulated to protect the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays and free radical damage. It’s also water-resistant for 80 minutes, which is ideal for protecting your skin when the area around your hairline starts sweating. Just be sure to reapply throughout the day if you’ll be spending some time outside.

Editor’s note: Extend the sunscreen onto your scalp as well, especially if you’re bald. Your hair is only a partial protector against sun damage. If you don’t want to get your hair greasy from the sunscreen, opt for a hat when outdoors.

NECK AND CHEST

Your neck and chest are one of the first places to show signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. The leading cause of premature aging? You guessed it: Harmful UV rays. Be proactive and give your décolleté the attention it deserves by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. We recommend reaching for La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios AOX Daily SPF 50 Sunscreen. It’s the brand’s first daily antioxidant serum with sunscreen. Formulated with a broad-spectrum SPF 50, it protects against signs of photoaging and improves the skin’s radiance. Go ahead and let the skin on your face drink up the benefits, too. It’s non-comedogenic, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and suited for sensitive skin types.