The Ultimate Guide To Sunscreens

All you need to know in 5 Minutes

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Reading The Labels Right

Sun Protection Factor (SPF)

Indicates how much ultraviolet B-rays (UVB) are filtered out, and how long you can stay in the sun without doing damage. For instance, if your skin starts to redden in 20 minutes without sunscreen, an SPF 30 will allow you to stay in the sun 30 times longer without getting burned.

Protection Grade of UVA rays (PA)

The PA you see on sunscreen bottles is a rating system created in Japan to indicate the level of protection from ultraviolet A-rays (UVA) rays. The more plus signs (the maximum is three) next to PA, the higher the protection.

Broad Spectrum

Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB, and these are the harmful rays that form wrinkles, sagging skin and other signs of ageing. UVB rays damage the skin’s upper surface and are the main cause of sunburn. Both can cause skin cancer.

Water resistant

As much as we would like sunscreen to be waterproof, there’s really none that is 100% safe from the water. Instead, most are labelled water resistant for 40 or 80 minutes. UV rays can penetrate through water, so look for a sunscreen with this feature.

Wear It Right

Use sunscreens generously

The amount varies accordingly for individuals, but most adults need around 1 tablespoon of sunscreen for the face and a handful (amount you can hold in your palm) of it for the body. Rub the sunscreen thoroughly into your skin.

Apply sunscreen to all bare skin

Don’t forget to apply sunscreens to your ears, neck and the top of your feet and legs – basically any skin exposed. If you have thinning hair, either apply sunscreen to your scalp or wear a wide-brimmed hat. To protect your lips, apply a lip balm with a SPF of at least 15.