Let’s face it: not everyone is a flexible yoga instructor. If you can’t reach your mid-back, do not panic. Sunscreen is not a superhero power—it’s a liquid you can manipulate. Try the “Back-of-the-Thigh Sweep.” While standing, lift your leg slightly and rub sunscreen on the back of your own thigh, then use that same leg to lean against a wall and smear the lotion upward onto your lower back.
Yes, it sounds ridiculous. It looks even more ridiculous. But a lobster-red back is far more embarrassing than a brief moment of looking like a flamingo. (I speak from experience.)
The Spyderco Spray Lotion Hack
Now, if you’re a product junkie like me, you might use a spray sunscreen. Warning: spray alone is a lie. The wind will eat 40% of it, and you’ll still have pale, unprotected stripes. Here’s the hack: spray the lotion onto your palms first, then rub your hands together and apply it like a cream. It sounds counterintuitive, but it forces you to actually massage it into the skin instead of just misting the air.
For your back, spray a thick coat onto a washcloth or a towel, then crush the towel against your back and rub it in circles. It’s messy, it’s weird, and it’s infinitely more effective than just praying the spray lands correctly. Your future self will thank you when you don’t peel in sheets a week later.
Is it safe to make your own sunscreen? | FMT
