Sunscreen Tips for the Summer

You’ve probably heard this a million times; wear your SPF religiously! Sunscreen Tips for the Summer sun emits two types of radiation: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays contribute to the signs of aging in the skin, like wrinkles and sagging. If you’re new to the SPF world, here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts that you need to know before the summer hits. (:

1. Does the SPF number matter?

Yes and No. Sunscreen Tips for the Summer sun emits two types of radiation: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays contribute to the signs of aging in the skin, like wrinkles and sagging. UVB rays are more carcinogenic and often responsible for sunburns. UVA rays also make UVB rays more reactive, so combined, the two can be deadly. Essentially, SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. However, this doesn’t mean that a product with SPF 100 is more effective than one with SPF 50. To put it simply, SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and the number after it indicates the how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen. Essentially, an SPF 30 sunscreen applied properly will give better protection than an SPF 50+ sunscreen applied too thinly. Check out our range of clean sunscreen here.

2. Your lips need sunscreen too!

If you want to avoid chapped and discolored lips, wearing a lip balm with good SPF is key. Just like the rest of your skin, your lips are susceptible to sun damage if exposed to the sun for a long period of time. Click here to browse through our our SPF lip balm options.

3. You need to reapply after a couple of hours.

According to many dermatologists, SPF should be reapplied at least every two hours for maximum benefits. The effectiveness of sunscreens do wear off as you move around; it may rub off on your clothes, your car seat, and can be dissolved by sweat so make sure to throw in your SPF product before heading out into the sun.

4. Avoid sunscreens with chemical filters.

You may have heard this floating around but many countries have banned the distribution of chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone due to its destructive effect on coral reefs. These ingredients have been proven to increase the risks of skin allergies as well as disruption to your hormonal balance. Thus, we always recommend you to use a mineral sunscreen instead. One that is reef-safe, toxin-free, paraben-free, and biodegradable. Luckily, our Sunkiss range takes all of these into account so you don’t have to worry about the clean checks. There you have it, a condensed guide to using sunscreen for the summer. Of course, protecting your skin from sun damage is one thing, but we also recommend you to pay attention to your after-sun care as well. Using the right moisturizers and gels can further prevent any skin peeling and dryness so be sure you stack up on those too. Find out after-sun care range here. Happy Summer! <3