Looking great on the beach isn’t just about having a great suit or killer confidence- it’s about protecting your skin from sun damage that can eventually cause cancer and wrinkles. Here’s ten sun safety tips to ensure that you’re keeping your skin safe all summer long:

1. Wear sunscreen:

This sun safety tip should should go without saying. Experts say that you should wear broad-spectrum 30+ SPF every day, even when it’s cloudy or overcast. For best protection apply two tablespoons to all if the body parts that will be in the sun 30 minutes before you go outside.

2. Wear a hat:

Wide brim hats are a great way to protect your ears, face, and neck from the sun, while making a stylish beach accessory.

3. Wear your shades:

Sunglasses aren’t just a killer fashion essential; they protect against UVA/UVB rays as well. Think of your sunglasses as sunscreen for your eyes- they’ll help ward off cataracts and eyelid cancer (which represents 5-10% of all skin cancer!!).

How do you protect your skin from sun damage during the summer? Vote in our poll below to see how you compare to other FP girls!

4. “Before you fry, reapply!”

Sunscreen should be applied every 1 1/12 hours, and every 40-80 minutes if you’re swimming. Stopping to lather up so often might seem like a pain in the butt, BUT you’ll thank us in ten years, we promise.

5. Check the UV index:

Yes, this is a thing. The UV index predicts the daily risk of sunburn in local areas based up weather info from the National Weather Service. With an easy-to-read 1-10 scale of risk, even the non-scientist can use it!

6. A kiss on the lips

Don’t forget to protect your lips! Tinted balms like this one with SPF are easy to apply without a mirror and will keep you protected all day long.

7. Skip the scents:

If you’re a regular perfume user, skip the spritz before heading to the beach. Scents with bergamot and lime can react negatively with sunlight and may even result in “horrific blistering.” Better safe than sorry.

8. Save the darty for another day:

If you’re old enough to drink, it might be tempting to bring a few (or a lot) of cold ones with you to enjoy beachside. But unfortunately alcohol can be severely dehydrated, increasing your likelihood of heat-related illness. If that doesn’t scare you, this should: among drowning-related injuries of people aged 15 years or older, almost 22 percent were alcohol-related.

9. Find yourself a hydration station:

Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks with you whenever you’re planning on spending a long time in the sun. The longer you bake, the more water your body needs to stay energetic and hydrated.

How do you protect your skin from sun damage during the summer? Vote in our poll below to see how you compare to other FP girls!