By: Anagha S.
Hello everyone, and welcome back to another post here at Ana Health Avenue! A common misconception about sunscreen is that it should only be worn during the summer, or whenever the Sun is out!
But that is not the case.
In this post, I am going to be going over everything you need to know about SPF, from the purpose of it, to how you can implement SPF in your everyday life!
If this sounds like your cup of tea, continue reading!
Table of Contents(sections in sequential order)
- What is sunscreen/SPF, and why is it important?
- What are the different types of rays the Sun emits?
- What are the different types of sunscreen?
- What is the difference between different levels of SPF?
- When should you wear sunscreen?
- Where can you find SPF?
- Summary.
- Sources!
What is sunscreen/SPF, and why is it important?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a measure of how long a sunscreen will protect you from ultraviolet(UV) rays. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect you from the Sun’s UVA and UVB rays(more on those later). These rays can cause
sun damage, early aging, and worst of all, skin cancer.
Different sunscreens with different levels of SPF prevent different outcomes.
What are different types of rays that the Sun emits?
According to an article on UV radiation by the NSF Polar Programs UV Monitoring Network(article linked in Sources), the Sun is a major source of UV rays.
99% of the Sun’s rays are in the form of ultraviolet rays, visible light, and infrared rays.
Ultraviolet rays can be divided into 3 different categories; UVA, UVB, and UVC. They are divided into different categories due to the amounts of energy each type of wavelength band has, and their respective effects on biological matter.
Now, we are not going to go too in-depth here, because this article is about the importance of sunscreen. But, for those of you who like to know the science-y stuff behind things(which, honestly, same), I am going to give you a summary of each type of UV ray.
UVC rays are the most dangerous to humans, but natural UVC rays never make it past the ozone layer.
UVB rays penetrate the outside layer of our skin, but UVA rays have the potential to penetrate multiple layers. They are the most common type of UV rays.
What are the different types of sunscreen?
Now, we are going to talk about the different types of sunscreen. Two types of SPF work to produce a UV filter that keeps harmful rays away from our skin: mineral and chemical sunscreen. While they both have the same endgame(gosh, I love that song!), they use different mechanisms to achieve their goal.
Mineral Sunscreen(Physical)
Mineral/physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin’ s surface, serving as a physical barrier that deflects UV rays away from the skin. Because this sunscreen forms a physical barrier, it is effective as soon as you apply it to your skin.
But, some negative facts about mineral sunscreen is that they tend to have a white-ish cast to them, as well as you have to reapply it multiple times throughout the day because it can lose its effect pretty soon due to grease, oil, and sweat on the face.
But, it is said that physical sunscreens are better for sensitive and/or acne-prone skin types. Nanoparticles in mineral sunscreen should be avoided, so don’t purchase powder or spray versions of SPF. Lastly, mineral sunscreens contain active ingredients including titanium dioxide, zinc dioxide, or both.
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin, then absorbs UV rays. After it absorbs the rays, it converts them into heat and releases them from your body. The main active ingredients in chemical sunscreen include avobenzone, octinoxate, and oxybenzone.
This type of sunscreen takes some time to absorb into the skin, so a bit of planning is needed. A benefit of this type is that it will not leave a cast of color on darker skin tones.
But, as the SPF in a chemical sunscreen increases, the more detrimental it becomes for sensitive skin types. Also, since it absorbs into the skin, this sunscreen has a chance of clogging pores for oilier skin types. You will need to reapply it as well since the protection it offers gets used up quickly in direct sunlight.
~If you would like a visual aid to comprehend the information above, be sure to check out the infographic below.~
What is the difference between different levels of SPF?
When you are buying sunscreen, finding out which SPF level is best for you can be confusing. I have done online research to find more information, and I believe that Banana Boat has beautifully explained which SPF level would be best for different skin types.(link to Sun Safety SPF Chart in Sources)
As you can see, two main factors of choosing a sunscreen are how many hours you spend outdoors and how much melanin is in your skin(how dark or light your skin color is).
For example, if someone has a medium skin tone and spends about 3 hours a day in the Sun, they would be best with an SPF level of 15.
Basically, different levels of SPF provide different levels of protection from the Sun. Finding the best SPF level according to the chart above will make sure your Sun protection is effective.
When should you wear sunscreen?
Contrary to common belief, you should be wearing sunscreen inside as well as outside. UV rays can penetrate through glass and reach your skin.
The best way to make sure that your skin is protected from the Sun 24/7 is to put on sunscreen every day.
Also, to make sure that the effect of sunscreen is present throughout the entire day is to reapply every 2 hours. The reason why is that all humans sweat. All humans have dirt on their faces, and this can dilute the SPF that you apply.
So, by wearing sunscreen all the time(and I mean all the time), as well as reapplying frequently, you can make sure your skin stays safe.
Where can you find SPF?
Well well well, we are halfway through this post. Thank you reader, once again, for choosing to read this article!
Nowadays, information about sunscreen is abundant. Because of that, it is easier now than ever to use SPF in a variety of ways. Today, you can find a form of sun protection in a variety of makeup products, such as foundation and primer.
The makeup company, Tarte, sells an SPF powder called the Tarteguard 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 that is easy to reapply over makeup. Moisturizers also have SPF, as well as dedicated sunscreen.
So, whether you are a makeup junkie, or just a simple moisturizer lover(I’m guilty of both), there are a multitude of options for Sun protection.
*Buy Tarteguard 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 today!*
Summary
Well, now we are at the end of this post! Now, I am going to summarize all the information in this post.
Let’s go.
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays that the Sun emits.
To protect your skin from these rays, you can either choose a chemical or physical sunscreen.
Chemical sunscreen absorbs into the skin, takes some time to work, and can irritate acne-prone or sensitive skin types.
Physical(mineral) sunscreen sits on top of the skin, can leave a white-ish cast, and works immediately.
Now, about SPF.
You need to choose an SPF level based on the amount of melanin in your skin, as well as how long you are in contact with the Sun. Remember, you are exposed to the Sun outside as well as inside. So, be sure to wear sunscreen all your waking hours, as well as frequently reapply it, ideally every 2 hours(more if you are engaging in physical activity).
Last, you can protect your skin from the Sun through various makeup and skincare products.
And, we’re done!
Thank you for reading what I have to say about sunscreen! I hope this helped inform you about SPF, and maybe help you make a consumer decision. Be sure to check out my other posts, as well as corresponding social media accounts! Thank you guys once again for reading, and I’ll see you next week!-Anagha
Sources!
*These are the websites I used to collect more information for this post…be sure to check them out!
This is a nice blog post. I’ll get sunscreen now!
Great! I recommend definitely buying the one mentioned in the post by Tarte!