Use a broad‑spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 for everyday use, and SPF 50 or higher if you burn easily, are very fair, or will be in strong sun for longer.

Quick Scoop

The simple rule

  • For most people: SPF 30+ broad‑spectrum (UVA + UVB) is the standard daily recommendation.
  • If you’re fair, burn quickly, or on sensitizing products (like retinoids): SPF 50 is often advised for extra margin of safety.
  • “Broad‑spectrum” matters as much as the number because SPF only measures UVB; broad‑spectrum adds UVA protection too.

Why not just use SPF 100?

  • SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB, SPF 50 about 98%, and very high SPFs add only a tiny bit more.
  • Because people usually under‑apply sunscreen, dermatology groups recommend at least SPF 30 rather than chasing extreme numbers.

How to choose for your lifestyle

  • Mostly indoors, few short walks: SPF 30 broad‑spectrum is usually enough.
  • Outdoors for several hours, midday sun, beach or sports: consider SPF 50, water‑resistant, and reapply every 2 hours and after swimming/sweating.
  • Very fair skin that burns easily: some charts suggest starting at SPF 30 for 1–2 hours outside and going up to SPF 50–100 if you are out 4–5 hours.

Tiny example “decision story”

You wake up, go to the office, and only see the sun on your commute and at lunch. You’d put on a broad‑spectrum SPF 30 in the morning and reapply if you sit outside at noon.

On a weekend beach trip, you’d switch to a broad‑spectrum SPF 50, apply 15 minutes before going out, and keep reapplying every two hours and after every swim.

Very short TL;DR

  • Day‑to‑day: broad‑spectrum SPF 30+.
  • High sun, fair or sensitive skin: broad‑spectrum SPF 50 , reapply often.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.