Using sunscreen is important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. By regularly applying sunscreen, you can reduce the risk of sun damage such as sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer. There are a variety of sunscreens. Different high sun protection factor, physical or synthetic/chemical sunscreen, different consistencies, so what should you choose? Here you can get answers to the most common questions.
How high a sun protection factor should I use?
SPF stands for Sun Protecting Factor and briefly means how long you can stay in the sun without burning compared to if you don't use sunscreen. But there's a little more to it than that, where you are in the world, the weather and season and what you do during the day are also factors that affect how long your skin is protected by sunscreen.
- SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
- SPF 30 blocks 96.7% of UVB rays
- SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays
Although there is not that much difference, it is important to keep in mind that the higher the SPF, the longer and better your skin will be protected against UV rays.
The sun protection factor you choose depends on your skin type, but as a general rule, you should always choose a sunscreen with SPF 30-50 with protection against both UVA and UVB and reapply every two hours and after swimming and sweaty activity. Sensitive skin, mature skin and children should always have SPF 50 as their skin is more fragile and more easily damaged.
What is the difference between physical sunscreen and synthetic/chemical sunscreen?
A physical sunscreen uses natural mineral filters such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide that reflect UV rays away from the skin. This type of sunscreen protects immediately after application because it lies on top of the skin and always protects against both UVA and UVB.
A synthetic filter, also called a chemical filter (basically, it's all chemistry :-) ), usually consists of several different filters that protect against UVA, UVB or both. These filters instead absorb the UV rays and convert them into harmless radiation.
Both filters effectively protect against the sun's rays, but with us you can only find physical sunscreens as there are studies that show that some synthetic sunscreen filters can be hormone disruptors, harm our environment and destroy coral reefs, and that is not something we want to contribute to.
How should I apply my sunscreen?
We often use far too little sunscreen to get adequate protection.
For a liquid sunscreen, consider using about 30-50 ml for application to the entire body. For the face, you should use 2 finger-length lines, using your index and middle fingers to measure.
Solid sunscreens usually require a smaller amount because they do not contain any water. You can think of about 1 teaspoon per body part and about 1/2 teaspoon for the face.
It's easy to miss parts of your body and if you apply too much sunscreen at once, it can feel sticky and difficult to apply. A good rule of thumb is to apply 2 coats before going out in the sun. After that, reapply every two hours and always after swimming or if you've sweated.
Can you use the sunscreen you left over from last year?
Sunscreen usually has a shelf life of 6-12 months after opening the package and it can be even shorter if the sunscreen is stored in a warm place. We recommend that you store your sunscreen in a cool, dark place and that you replace it before each new sun season.