You’ve heard so much about sunscreen. Heck, you’ve probably used it all your life. But still, there’s so much you may not yet know about sunscreen.
Knowledge is power, and learning more about this amazing UV-resisting product can help you get the best out of it.
So without much ado, here are some sunscreen facts every woman should know.
1. Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30
The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) indicates how much protection the sunscreen offers. Products with at least 30 SPF resist about 97% of UV rays. Even though it seems costlier, it’s a worthy investment.
2. Dark-skinned people need sunscreen
A common misconception is that dark skins have enough natural sun protection. The darkest skin tone has an SPF of 13.4, and the Caucasian is around 3.4.
Neither is high enough (SPF 30) to prevent sunburn or premature skin aging. The best you can do is find a sunscreen product that’s suited to your skin type rather than ditch it altogether.
3. You can apply sunscreen to your lips
The lips are the most overlooked part of the skin when applying sunscreen. Some people think it isn’t safe, while some just never thought about using sunscreen on their lips.
Interestingly, your lips are more susceptible to sun damage and aging because the lip skin doesn’t contain oil and sweat glands like other parts of your face. If your lips have thinned out and wrinkled over time, consider getting lip injections at Restore Medical Clinic. The procedure will restore your lips’ volume and moisture, and you can then start using lip sunscreen to protect and maintain the glow.
4. Sunscreens can be water-resistant but never waterproof
You probably have come across sunscreens labeled “waterproof” and “sweatproof,” but those claims aren’t true. The new labeling system mandates that manufacturers avoid making such false claims.
SPFs may protect your skin underwater for a limited time. This is water resistance rather than a waterproof feature. When that time elapses, the product becomes too weak to withstand water erosion. The same applies to sweat.
5. Broad-spectrum sunscreens are the best
You probably know that sunscreen protects your skin from UV radiation, but there are two types of harmful UV rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays, which cause premature skin aging, and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which cause sunburn.
Not all sunscreens protect you from both types of rays. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect you from both UVA and UVB rays, which in combination can cause skin cancer.
6. Reapply every two hours of being outdoors
Typically, it would be best to reapply sunscreen every two hours of being under the sun because the efficacy diminishes with time. Although some sunscreens can protect you for longer, The FDA recommends that brands specify and prove if the product does so for more than 2 hours.
7. Don’t use sunscreen for babies below 6 months old
Keep babies less than six months old out of the sun. Use protective clothing for them rather than sunscreen, as their delicate skin may be too sensitive to the product.
Final words
Sunscreen is powerful and should be a critical part of your beauty routine, regardless of age. However, it’s only one part of any beauty or anti-aging routine.
Ensure you protect your skin from the sun with protective clothing, avoid long hours under the sun, use moisturizers, and eat healthy food good for the skin.
