This Memorial Day weekend, millions will be headed to the beach, relaxing poolside or enjoying other outdoor activities. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, it’s important that we receive 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine every day to benefit from vitamin D.

While we might think that our skin is invincible, too much sun exposure can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Sunscreen is essential to protecting yourself from the harmful effects of the sun, that’s why you should never compromise healthy skin by forgetting this key component of your daily routine. We’ve come up with some tips to help keep your skin safe this summer.

• Cover up. Wear protective clothing, like hats and sunglasses when going outside. No sunscreen offers a 100% resistance to sun rays.
• Timing is everything. Try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
• Lather up. Choose a sunscreen lotion over a sunscreen spray. With sprays, enough sunscreen may not actually make it onto the skin to protect you and you may increase your risk of inhaling dangerous chemicals.
• Labels aren’t everything. Look for an SPF between 15 and 50, as sunscreens with SPFs higher than 50 have been found to not offer much additional protection.
• Get the best of both worlds. Your sunscreen should provide broad-spectrum coverage, which shields UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.
• Don’t forget to reapply. Protection only lasts two hours, so make sure to reapply throughout the day and after getting out of the water.
• It’s what’s on the inside that counts. Avoid sunscreens that contain vitamin A, which can increase your risk of cancer, and oxybenzone, which can cause allergic reactions and interfere with hormones.

This summer, keep these seven steps in mind when you’re enjoying the nice weather. We wish you a safe and happy summer!