Like insta reels and coffee dates, sunscreens have become a vital part of our everyday life. Sadly, given the wide variety of categories and terms, purchasing one can become extremely confusing really quickly! We figured this simple guide might help:
Why do you need sunscreen?
To put it simply, a sunscreen is essential for protecting your skin from the harmful UV rays created by the sun. What do these rays do? UVA rays penetrate your skin and result in premature aging—think wrinkles and fine lines. UVB rays, on the other hand, cause sunburn. While that may sound harmless, prolonged exposure to these rays can lead to skin cancer!
What is SPF?
Sun Protection Factor (a.k.a. SPF) is a measure of the UVB protection offered by a sunscreen. The percentages are as follows: SPF30 - 97%, SPF50 - 98%, and SPF100 - 99.9%. This difference seems marginal, but on days when you plan to spend long hours under the harsh sun, it can be a game-changer.
What is broad-spectrum?
Broad-spectrum refers to the category of sunscreens that offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. The shift to this category occurred in the 1980s, and most sunscreens nowadays tend to be broad-spectrum.
What about bluelight damage?
A more recent concern, bluelight refers to the light emitted from devices such as phones and laptops. Prolonged hours of exposure to this light results in premature aging of the skin. Luckily, new modern sunscreens do offer protection from this issue as well!
Now that you have the basics down, go ahead and grab the sunscreen that fits your needs. Remember, reapply it every 2 hours and use it generously for the best possible protection. Make SPF the backbone of your skincare ritual—your future self will thank you for it!
