We love the sun and we love heading away on holiday but we can sometimes forget how harmful the sun's rays can be. Did you know that if you burn 5 times in your life then your chances of developing melanoma doubles? That's scary stuff so its best to stay safe in the sun and still have fun.

So, how does SPF (Sun Protection Factor) work? We see it plastered all over products and it can vary from 2 to 50! What does it mean? Well, according to skincancer.org, it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start burning, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer — about five hours. So this is the same if you're wearing factor 2 or factor 50. If it's factor 2 your sun cream is only actually working for 40 minutes, bear this in mind when going low on the SPF!

All over coverage

When basking in the sun you need to be covering your entire body in SPF! Don't forget about the little places like tops of ears, armpits and under your chin. You might not think these bits will catch the sun but it can sting when they burn. Always remember to reapply suncream after swimming or sweating too much and when the SPF has run out (as above timings!).

A spray application is super easy to apply and can be easier than a lotion if you're on the beach. We love the Vichy Ideal Soleil Hydrating Mist SPF 50 because it has a dry-touch finish and isn't sticky. Vichy is also a great brand for sensitive skin and all their products are alcohol free so won't dry your skin out.

We think we've discovered the holy grail of sun care and tanning. Enter the NARS Laguna Body Tint. This baby has SPF 30 and is basically an instant fake tan. So, if you're heading to a boat party or a big event and not planning to jump in the water then this is perfect for looking bronzed and gorgeous.

Finally, for body, another awesome and clever product is the Elemis Tan Accelerator. This product prepares your skin for exposure to the sun so it helps to prolong your tan whilst moisturising at the same time. How it works is by stimulating your skin's natural melanin production in advance so your skin is ready for the sun when it hits! It has a really low SPF so you can wear it on holiday underneath your standard SPF too.

Let's face it

With your face it's so easy to find a great SPF that also makes you look gorgeous and radiant as so many foundations, BB creams and skin tints have up to SPF 30 in them. Perfect for keeping your skin safe and preventing wrinkles in later life! A favourite of ours is the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF 30 as it offers awesome protection but also makes your skin look great and works fantastically with other makeup products as well as on it's own. On holiday, like most beach babes, I don't like to wear much makeup during the day. SPF in my moisturiser and then a touch of concealer or skin tint under my eyes and maybe some waterproof mascara. This is a great product for low-key trips. It would also double up as your foundation in the evening so it's a dual-purpose product!

A great product for topping up SPF if you're wearing a full face of makeup and don't want to mess it up is a spray SPF such as the Pixi Sun Mist. This lightweight spray won't mess up your contour but will still give you SPF 30 protection! Plus, it's the perfect size for travelling as it's 80ml.

Don't forget about your lips in the sun! Make sure your lip balm has at least SPF 15 in it. You'll probably be applying this more often than your face or body sun care so a lower SPF is fine here. A lip butter such as the Korres Mandarin Stick will be great for this because it won't melt like products such as Vaseline will and it's in a hygienic stick form. Sticky fingers in tubs of lip balm on the beach? No thanks!

Look after those locks

It's not just your skin that the sun has an impact on. Your hair gets hit by the sun's harsh UV rays as well so it's a great idea to protect it to keep it healthy and looking great. Prevention is better than a cure and burning your scalp can also be something that many people forget about but if it happens, it's painful! Products such as the Malibu Clear Hair and Scalp Protector can help keep your hair safe and your scalp burn-free!

You can also look after your hair post-sun bathing with some great in-shower products. I love the NUXE After-Sun Hair & Body Shampoo because it's 2-in-1 so doubles up as your shower gel and is super refreshing. Give hair some TLC with the Collistar After-Sun Intensive Restructuring Hair Mask, it's really nourishing and softens sun-frazzled locks.