Though it may not be summer yet, it’s officially sunny and warm out for most of us, and people are getting outside. We don’t mean to repeat what you’ve probably already heard a thousand times, but since it isSkin Cancer Awareness month, we thought we should remind you—wear sunscreen.

You should know by now the reasons you want to stay protected and prevent a sunburn. If you don’t, first consider this bit of information from the Skin Cancer Foundation:

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime; 13 million Americans are living with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, and nearly 800,000 Americans are living with a history of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

The good news is that this is all highly preventable.

All in all, the best way to avoid skin cancer is reducing your sun exposure and not getting burned. There are a few ways of doing this—staying in the shade, not staying out as long, etc.—but everyone’s favorite option is to apply sunscreen.

The problem here is that there is a lot of confusion surrounding sunscreen and what to look for. Most people look for what’s on the front of the bottle: SPF.  Though that number is important (go for something that’s 30+), there’s something a lot more important you should be looking for on the back of the bottle, in the ingredients—zinc oxide.

Zinc oxide is the most effective ingredient for protecting you from a sunburn. While other sunscreens contain ingredients that absorb into the skin and deactivate or degrade sunlight after contact, physical blockers like zinc oxide lie on the skin’s surface and absorb or reflect harmful UVA/UVB rays before they can make contact with the skin.

Also, if you’re comparing sunscreens with zinc oxide, it’s always better to choose the one with a higher percentage. Look for one that’s 5% or more.

Theraderm Platinum Protection Facial Sunscreen is a broad-spectrum, SPF 43 sunscreen with 7.5% zinc oxide. It’s lightweight, works well under makeup, doesn’t leave a white sheen and won’t irritate your eyes.  Get some today so you can enjoy your time in the sun with peace of mind about your skin!

Watch Therapon’s national trainer, Michelle Bechtold, explain zinc oxide a little more: