There are plenty of important details to consider when choosing a sunscreen. The ingredients, the SPF, how much you use and even when you apply it all factor in, to ensure you and your family is protected. But if you’re using spray sunscreens, you need to be extra careful or you could get burned.

“The problem isn’t with the spray sunscreens themselves, it’s just that most people don’t apply them correctly,” explained Trisha Calvo of Consumer Reports.

You might think it’s convenient to do a quick spritz with a spray, but in fact, in Consumer Reports’ tests of sunscreens, they found you actually need to take great care when applying them, or you may shortchange your sun protection.

Start by holding the nozzle close to your skin and spray, until the skin glistens. Then rub it in, for more even coverage.

Also, make sure you don’t inhale the mist. It can cause lung irritation. That’s one of the reasons why Consumer Reports recommends not using sprays on kids. If you do choose to use it on your children, spray the sunscreen into your hands first, then rub it into your child’s skin.

And be prepared to spend more if you go with a spray. Because some of the product can escape into the air, it’s smart to spray yourself twice, which means a good chunk of your sunscreen dollars could actually be gone with the wind.