It’s not rocket science. You know that if you’re going to spend time in the sun, you need to lather on the sunscreen. But where it gets more complicated is when you’re staring down an aisle of sunscreen bottles and tubes.

“When people look at the multitude of sunscreen options, it can be a bit overwhelming,” University of Central Arkansas Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Dr. Duston Morris says.

Here are some things Dr. Morris suggests looking for:

  • Select a broad-spectrum sunscreen that provides UVB and UVA protection. Make sure to read the label and ingredients to ensure the sunscreen covers both UVB and UVA rays.
  • Use SPF 15 or higher. This rates how effective the sunscreen is at preventing sunburn by UVB rays. If you normally burn in 20 minutes, multiple that by the SPF rating (20 minutes x SPF 15 = 300 minutes) and this is approximately how long you can stay in the sun without burning.
  • If you are going to be in the water or exercising in the sun, make sure to select a sunscreen that is sweat and water resistant.