SPF – What Do I Need?
August 23, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Every day of the year we need to apply sun protection so that accumulative sun damage doesn’t occur to our skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and possibly skin cancer.
A broad spectrum sunscreen covering UVA and UVB with a minimum SPF of 15 is essential.
The actual UVA protection depends on the active ingredients that are used.
Some factors to think about when you buying a sunscreen are:
- Are you exercising and therefore perspiring or going to be swimming?
Buy a waterproof sunblock and be sure to reapply.
If you do rub yourself with a towel – reapply the cream. - How long will you be exposed for?
The longer the exposure the higher the SPF needed. - Are you going to wear makeup?
Foundations and pressed powders can have an SPF included in the formulation.
This will increase the overall sun protection factor. - Is my skin oily?
Spray on sunscreen can be good for oily skin. Look for a lotion rather than a cream – some have a matte finish that can be helpful for oily skins. - Do I burn easily?
If you know your skin type burns easily, you will need a higher SPF . - Is the higher the SPF the better?
The SPF is just related to how long you can stay in the sun. So if you have a skin type that burns very readily you will need to use a higher SPF.