Essential Sunscreen Tips: How to Make the Most Out of Your Sunscreen

Make sure you’re sun savvy! These sunscreen tips will help you to stay safe from the sun while traveling.

When the sun’s out, it’s the time to play and soak up those rays—just don’t forget your sunscreen for Mexico. It’s the number one safety precaution against nasty sunburns and preventing skin cancer. The problem is… most of us are applying our sunscreen for Mexico incorrectly or buying the wrong products for our skin.

Let’s ‌look at how you can get the most out of your sunscreen. You don’t want the sizzling Mexican sun leaving you looking like a tomato! And you definitely don’t want to spend any of your precious vacation days stuck inside with a sunburn or heatstroke (I’ve been there, and it’s the worst).

Make sure to follow these sunscreen tips on your next Mexico vacation!

For a perfect vacation in Mexico, you need to make sure to choose the right sunscreen for Mexico and the specific part of Mexico you are visiting to protect you effectively.

Ensuring you have the best sunscreen for Mexico will greatly enhance your outdoor experience.

Keeping in mind the importance of using the right sunscreen for Mexico, you will ensure your skin stays protected throughout your journey.

Choosing the right sunscreen for Mexico ensures your skin remains protected during those sunny days.

Choosing The Right Sunscreen For Mexico

It’s important to check the label on your sunscreen and ensure that it protects you against both ultraviolet-A (UVA) and ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation from the sun. The bottle could say UVA and UVB, or it could say that it’s a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which means the same thing.

In the ingredients, it should also have either titanium oxide or zinc oxide.

You want to protect against both types of ultraviolet radiation, as they cause different types of damage to your skin. UVA puts you at risk for skin cancer, and UVB ‌causes sunburn and sun damage to your skin.

Remember that applying sunscreen for Mexico will help you enjoy the sun without the risk of burns.

All Experts Agree: Go For Sunscreen with SPF 30 Or Higher

If you want to enjoy your time in direct sunlight without doing damage, you need sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, signifies the extent to which the sunscreen absorbs or reflects UV rays.

The SPF number also indicates how long you can stay out in the sun before the UV rays will start to impact your skin. 

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If you use the product exactly as indicated, you should be able to stay outside for 30 times longer than you would without an SPF 30 sunscreen. However, it’s important to note that everybody’s skin is different, and this length of time is not guaranteed.

Another important thing to note is that studies have shown a sunscreen with SPF 30 can absorb around 97% of the UV rays that damage your skin. The protection level only increases slightly to 98% when using an SPF of 50. 

Yes, you do get a bit more protection the higher the number, but once you go over SPF 30, the difference between products is greatly reduced.

Properly slathering on sunscreen for Mexico is essential for a fun and safe vacation.

If you’re in Mexico, using sunscreen for Mexico is critical to avoid sunburn.

Applying sunscreen for Mexico is just as important as your vacation plans.

Slather That Sunscreen On

How you apply sunscreen is just as important as the SPF that you go for. It’s easy to see how much you’re putting on if you use a cream-based sunscreen. For your face, you should use an amount of sunscreen equivalent to the size of a nickel. 

Make sure you apply sunscreen in Mexico to protect yourself from the sun’s rays.

By applying sunscreen for Mexico, you can enjoy the beach without worries.

For the rest of your body, if you’re in a swimsuit, you should use about an ounce of sunscreen. This is the same amount as you would get in a shotglass.

Apply Sunscreen Everywhere

It’s critical to ensure that you cover every part of your skin that’s exposed, especially the bits that don’t see the sun that often. Make sure to apply sunscreen beyond the edges of your clothing or swimsuit. 

Even if you prefer to wear women’s swimsuits with UV and SPF protection, why take the risk? If you have lighter skin, such as me, you absolutely should apply it everywhere.

This is one of the most important sunscreen tips for Mexico! You can still get sunburned on your legs while they are underwater.

Reapplying your sunscreen for Mexico often will ensure you stay protected all day.

Too often, people go up to the line of what they’re wearing and stop. But as they move throughout the day, a patch of skin with no sunscreen on it gets exposed and starts to burn.

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Apply Sunscreen 30 Minutes Before Going Outside

Don’t wait until you get outdoors before applying your sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation says that it takes about half an hour for sunscreen to absorb into the skin properly so that it can protect you.

If you wait until after you get into the sun, it could be too late to prevent a mild burn or worse.

Remember, applying sunscreen for Mexico is key, even when it’s cloudy.

You also need to consider when you’ll be swimming. You want your sunscreen to absorb into the skin before you hit the water; otherwise, it’ll simply wash off and you’ll get burnt.

Make sure you apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you take a dip. 

Reapply Sunscreen Often — Especially When Swimming Or Sweating

We’ve already mentioned how long sunscreen allows you to spend out in the sun. However, if you’re outside for an extended period of time, you have to reapply your sunscreen.

How often ranges between every hour and every two hours, depending on the product you’re using and what you’re doing in the sun.

No matter what a sunscreen might promise, it will never be completely waterproof. If you go swimming—even if you don’t towel yourself off—you must reapply it when you get out of the water and dry off.

If you’re sweating a lot, you should opt for a water-resistant sunscreen and reapply it every hour. 

When exploring Mexico, following these sunscreen tips for Mexico is essential for safety.

No Sun Doesn’t Mean No Sunscreen

Don’t forget to use sunscreen for Mexico when out and about during your travels.

One of the basics of sunscreen is that it’s not just for use on sunny days. You need to wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s overcast, windy, or threatening to rain.

When there’s cloud cover, the sun still emits harmful UV rays. Although clouds can reduce sunlight, they can still cause a nasty burn. 

Don’t Just Rely On Sunscreen

Sunscreen will always be your number-one defense against skin cancer and sun damage. However, it should never be your only method of protection.

Your best bet is to get out of direct sunlight for as much of the day as possible. Look for shady areas, as even dappled sunlight is kinder to your skin.

The next step is to cover up. If you’re going to be swimming or playing in the water for hours, invest in a UV-protection swimsuit or top. Adding a lightweight cover-up swimsuit will help you to stay cool and will protect you from the sun too.

Then, don’t forget your hat. A wide-brimmed hat is better than a peak cap because it can also protect your neck and shoulders. 

Finally, make sure you have good-quality sunglasses that offer proper UV protection.

Make Being Sun Safe A Priority

Whether you’re exploring Mexico or anywhere else in the world, make sure that you’re sun safe. Making the most of your sunscreen means that you don’t have to worry about sunburn or skin damage, and you can still get a healthy dose of Vitamin D.

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🏨 What’s the best way to find accommodation in Mexico?

Expedia.com is wonderful specifically for reserving high-end luxury hotels and resorts and is by far the best for reserving flights. Booking.com is awesome for affordable hotels in Mexico. VRBO specializes in apartment and house rentals, making it a wonderful place to find long-term stays.

✈️ What’s the best way to find affordable flights?

In my experience traveling to and within Mexico, I LOVE Expedia.com because they simplify rate comparisons between different airlines. I’ve always come back to Expedia.com because of how wide the selection is of airlines to choose from that go to Mexico. Great pricing is another reason, too!

💸 How should I exchange money in Mexico?

Have you ever heard of the company named WISE? WISE is an app that offers the best solutions for individuals and businesses traveling internationally, providing the fastest and most cost-effective way to convert money into a foreign country’s local currency. It is the least expensive and fastest way to transfer money from your home country’s bank to one in a foreign country.

🚖 How do I find a safe airport transfer?

I recommend GetYourGuide.com for airport transfers anywhere in Mexico. It’s almost as excellent and simple to use as Uber, in my humble opinion. I’ve used them LOTS.

🚗 What’s the best way to find rental cars in Mexico?

I recommend Booking.com. What I’ve found is that their price comparison tool is updated multiple times daily, making it easy to find and prepare to snag the best deal possible because of the inclusion of fire sale types of discounts.

Other companies don’t include these short-lived discounts in their price comparison because they sync once a day (typically overnight) with each rental car company. The Booking.com tool for comparing rental car prices is what I use for car rentals in Mexico. I’ve yet to have complaints about them.

🚐 How do I book bus tickets online in Mexico?

Book your tickets with Busbud—the site is in English and takes foreign credit cards.

🤿 How do I find cool activities and tours in Mexico?

TripAdvisor is the usual website and service I use for finding fun things to do; it has great options and it’s much faster to book with them since they organize their personalized recommendations for you if you’re signed in.

🇲🇽 How can I experience Mexico like a local?

Travelers can hire a local guide through GetyourGuide.com. You’ll be able to tailor tours based on your interests—it’s basically like experiencing a destination with a local bestie!

🧳 What’s the best luggage for Mexico?

Unless you’re staying at a resort, a travel pack is recommended. I’ve used travel backpack from Osprey for the last 8+ years. 

👯‍♀️ How do I connect with fellow travelers in Mexico?

Join my Female Travelers in Mexico Facebook group, a supportive community of fellow Mexico travel enthusiasts, where you can find answers to all your travel questions!

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