Whether you’re tan or not, wearing sunblock lotion on a regular basis is very important. Even if you’re not someone who burns easily, long-term exposure to the sun has been linked to skin cancer in many studies. If you want to avoid the discomfort of sunburns and ultimately keep yourself healthy in the long run, sunblock lotion is essential for outdoor activities.

Generally, dermatologists recommend using sunblock lotion for any sun exposure of over 30 minutes or so. If you’ve looked at sunblock in the stores before, you’ve probably noticed that there are quite a few brands, SPFs and types. As far as brands go, Fallene, Neutrogena, and Loving Naturals seem to be the best. The SPF you choose should depend on your situation and how long you intend to stay outside. Both Neutrogena and Loving Naturals make a waterproof sunblock lotion, which is available in various SPFs. This type of sunblock is ideal if you intend to swim or get wet. Normal brands of sunblock will wash off in the water, and even some “waterproof” sunblock lotions will still ware off, especially if they’re generic or little-known brands.

When it comes to sunblock lotion, the cheapest option is rarely the best one. If you want to protect your skin from the sun, splurge a little bit and buy a name brand that you recognize. If you don’t, you might get sunburned anyways, and that’s never a fun experience. The pain and annoyance of a sunburn will far outweigh the cost of a simple bottle of Neutrogena, Fallene, etc. sunblock. If you’re on a budget, try buying sunblock online or in bulk at a place like Costco. The Internet is cheaper for almost everything, including sunblock, and bulk stores like Costco are able to offer pretty good prices for high-quality sunblock lotion.