Can you effectively apply sunscreen to a beard?

Not perfectly, but you can make it work. The problem is hair blocks sunscreen from reaching the skin underneath—cream just sits on the hairs. Use a lightweight lotion or gel, not a thick cream, and work it into the hair by parting it with your fingers to reach the skin. For more than 20 minutes outside, add a wide-brimmed hat to cover what the sunscreen misses.