5 Things You Didn’t know About Sun Care

What does broad-spectrum really mean, how long can we stay in the sun with SPF 50 and how much do we need to apply? Find out!

How long can you stay in the sun with SPF50?
SPF 50 blocks 98% of the harmful UVB rays, and it allows you to stay in the sun 50 times longer than if you were unprotected. However, this doesn’t mean that you should stay in the sun all day. It doesn’t take into account of often you swim, towel off your skin or sweat, but as a general rule with all SPF levels, after two hours you should reapply your sunscreen or get out of the sun.

Yes, you need to wear it every day! Even indoors, even in winter.
You may think that since you live in a colder climate, it’s cloudy outside or you’re spending the day indoors, you’re not in need of protecting your skin. But you are! UVA, UVB and visible light can still reach your skin even though it’s overcast. Sunlight can reflect on shiny surfaces and penetrate through windows, reaching the deeper layers of your skin even when you can’t see it.

You should be applying a lot more than you think!
Most people apply a way too small amount of sunscreen. You need around two tablespoons of sunscreen to cover your whole body, and if you are using a spray it can be difficult to guarantee that you are covering every spot. To be on the safe side, make sure you see a substantial layer of moisture on your skin before rubbing it in, and as always, be diligent with reapplication!

It takes around 15-20 minutes for sunscreen to start working!
If you don’t use sunscreen as part of your morning skin care routine, maybe you are one of the people who only apply sunscreen when already on the beach. Fact is, you should be applying sunscreen 15-20 minutes before exposing your skin to sunlight for the sunscreen to work optimally, and if you apply it when already on the beach you risk leaving your skin exposed to sunburn.

Your sunscreen should say broad-spectrum on the label. Why?
SPF protects your skin from UVB damage, which is responsible for sunburn, but you need broad-spectrum filters to protect your skin from UVA rays. UVA are considered the most damaging, because they can penetrate the skin more deeply and cause premature ageing and skin cancer. For the most effective protection from damaging rays, choose a sunscreen with both a high SPF and broad-spectrum UV filters.

Stay safe!

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