Check the expiration dates on the bottle. Not all sunscreens are stamped with expiration dates, but all do expire. So you'll be safer to choose a brand that has a date marked on it.

If you have bottles at home without dates, or if you're loyal to a brand that doesn't use dates, do not keep the product for more than a year - after that it loses its effectiveness.

When applying sunscreen:

Apply sunscreen before you leave home. Most people apply it once they're out, but ideally, you should do it before leaving the house. People get so busy setting up chairs and getting the kids settled that it can take twenty minutes before they get around to sunscreen, but sun damage can occur within ten minutes.

What to do after swimming:

Even if you use a waterproof sunscreen, reapply it when you come out of the water. Waterproof sunscreens are not towel proof. When you towel off, you wipe off sunscreen. You should also reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes even if you haven't gone in the water.

Which ingredient to look for:

For complete protection, choose a sunscreen that blocks UVB and UVA rays, but only one ingredient, OXYBENZONE has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to protect against UVA rays.

AS FOR ME...

I use a SUN BLOCK such as a cover up, hat or shirt which will give you the best protection for when you go out in the sun.

Sun Proofing Your Pets

Hairless, short-haired and white-haired dogs and cats are most susceptible to skin cancer. Dogs who have been closely groomed for summer are also at risk. To protect your pets, keep them inside or in shady areas between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on sunny days and apply sunscreen to vulnerable areas such as their heads and ears.