When shopping for a sunscreen, the most important thing to consider is, of course, providing an adequate layer of protection your skin. That can look different depending on your skin type and what kind of sunscreen experience you’re willing to have (the best coverage isn’t always the most convenient application process). However, here are a few guiding factors to consider, per Dr. Green.

SPF:

Dr. Green puts it simply: “The best SPF for the scalp is the one you will use consistently.” In a perfect world, that sunscreen has 50 SPF.

However, with a supplemental sunscreen or rigorous reapplication, you can go with a lesser SPF if it’s a product you’ll like more, she says. “I think people don’t like using sunscreen on their scalp,” she tells Women’s Health. “So, I’d rather have someone use [a sunscreen with a lower SPF] than not use it [at all].”

Ingredients:

There are two kinds of sunscreens you can seek out, depending on your skin sensitivity: physical (or mineral) and chemical. Mineral sunscreens are usually safe on all skin types. Chemical SPF;s include oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and/or avobenzone, which can cause skin irritation in some skin types and, thus, are not recommended for children, Dr. Green says.

Application:

Any kind of sunscreen can be applied to your scalp, but some are easier than others. For example, a powder or mist sunscreen is probably easiest to apply if you have hair on your scalp. However, if you burn easily or don’t have hair, a cream would provide better coverage.