A mineral lotion is a fine daily habit, but plenty of us want a face product that disappears under makeup. That is where I look at what else is out there, and the choices are better than they have ever been.

Kiehl's UV Serum SPF 50+ with collagen peptide has a serum feel. Caudalie's Vinosun Protect is a mineral face sunscreen with niacinamide, made to leave skin a little brighter. Ultra Violette's Future Screen is a fragrance-free mineral serum, and it is the one I would recommend to someone who dislikes the smell of sunscreen.

Kosas DreamBeam is a silicone-free mineral formula with ceramides and peptides, and it sits nicely under a base. IT Cosmetics Hello Sunshine is an invisible sunscreen for face, the easiest to slip into a morning routine. Innbeauty Project's Mineral Sun Glow adds a soft radiance, non-comedogenic and made for daily wear.

Here is the test I use for any of these. Put it on, wait five minutes, then apply your base. If the base pills or slides around, the layers are fighting, and you need either a thinner sunscreen or a longer wait. It is a simple problem that spoils a lot of mornings.

Two fingers of product for face and neck is the usual guide, and I would rather see you use a modest formula generously than a fancy one sparingly. Do not forget the ears, the sides of the neck and the hairline, which are the spots people miss when they are rushing out the door.

If you wear glasses or a hat, remember that skin along the edges of both still gets light. I trace a line of sunscreen along those edges on purpose.

Bodies need a different kind of sunscreen than faces. Nobody wants to stand there for ten minutes rubbing in a heavy cream on wet shoulders, and the thing you will actually reapply is the thing that feels good.

Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protector at SPF 60+ works for face and body, a lotion I like on shoulders and chest. Supergoop's PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 is the easy one to grab for family days. Ultra Violette's Vibrant Screen is water resistant and made for face and body, so it earns a place in the swim bag. innisfree's Daily UV Mineral SPF 45 has hyaluronic acid and is designed for both.

Then come the sprays and mists, which are lovely for reapplying over a swimsuit or across a back you cannot reach. Sol de Janeiro's Rio Radiance is a body spray with niacinamide and a faint glow, and Isle of Paradise's Daily Defense Body Mist SPF 30 is a light mist for everyday wear.

What I would skip: spraying into the wind and calling it done. Mists are easy to miss, so spray generously, rub it over the skin with your hand, and check that the coverage looks even. A quick pass over ears, feet and the back of your neck is where most burns start.

My packing order is simple. Lotion first, face formula second, mist last for the top-ups.

Keep the color-changing bottle where you can see it, because it works as a little reminder. I leave one by the front door and one in the car, which means I rarely leave without touching it. Reapply after swimming, after sweating, and after a towel has been rubbed over your skin, no matter what the label says about water resistance. Sit in shade in the middle of the day, and wear a hat, because sunscreen was never meant to do the whole job alone. If a patch of skin stays red, sore or blistered, please talk to a doctor. Good sunscreen makes a day outside easier. It does not replace shade, clothing or medical advice.