Lather up with a high SPF sunscreen, head out for a day in the sun and you're good to go, right? Well, maybe, but chances are you're not getting the protection you think you are.

Choosing a good sunscreen that will protect from the sun's harmful rays isn't as straight forward as the SPF "number" on the bottle. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind before you make your next sunscreen purchase:

• UVA rays and UVB rays are both cancer causing rays emitted by the sun
• SPF factors listed on bottles and tubes refers to protection against UVB rays, not UVA rays... look for one with a high SPF that also protects against UVA rays (broad spectrum)
• SPF factors also indicate how much longer you will be able to withstand sun exposure before a burn sets in. For example, someone who would burn after 10 minutes in the sun should multiply 10 X SPF to figure out long they will be protected from that particular sunscreen.
• Water resistant and water proof mean two different things, be on the safe side and choose a sunscreen or lotion  that offers both
• Reapply every 2 hours to ensure adequate protection from UV rays and don't forget about parts of the body that are frequently missed when applying sunscreen lotion .....lips, ears, back of neck and balding spots on top of the head...

Being fair skinned, living in CA and having an extremely fair skinned son, you can bet I've tried plenty of sunscreens......I've found that NO-AD Sunscreen Lotion 45 and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch have been great choices and both provide the UV protection they claim to. There are so many sunscreens to choose from these days, it's easy to grab one and go. Spend a few extra minutes to really look at what your getting, it's worth your time!