sunscreen

Everyday

Sunscreen is a cream or spray you put on your skin to protect it from the Sun's harmful rays so you don't get sunburn. tree →

In the lessons

In health and safety, especially in Australia and New Zealand («Slip, slop, slap»: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat), you put on sunscreen with a high SPF before going out in strong sun, about 20 minutes before, and put more on every two hours and after swimming. Sunscreen helps prevent sunburn and skin damage. It works best with shade, a hat and sunglasses. Also called sun cream (UK) or sunblock.

Examples

• Put on sunscreen before you go to the beach. tree →
• Don't forget sunscreen on your ears and nose. tree →
• Reapply sunscreen after swimming. tree →
• Slip, slop, slap: shirt, sunscreen and hat! tree →
• This sunscreen is SPF 50. tree →
• Even on cloudy days you can burn, so wear sunscreen. tree →
• My shoulders burnt because I missed a bit with the sunscreen. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable: «some sunscreen». One word. UK also «sun cream», US also «sunblock». Myth: you can't get sunburnt on a cloudy day — you can. Sunscreen does not make it safe to stay in the sun all day. SPF = sun protection factor; higher numbers protect more.