Scream Sunscreen: Here’s Your Ultimate Guide To Know Everything About What Is SPF In Sunscreen
We all have this one common question: what is SPF in sunscreen and who needs it? Everyone and everything under the sun. Oh, and did you know there's no getting away—even on overcast days? So, instead of adding sunburn to our list of regrets, let us avoid this permanent injury. Is there a simple way around this? Make a sunscreen with a high SPF a must-have in your handbag and enjoy the benefits. Scroll on to get the scoop on what is SPF in sunscreen!
What Is SPF In Sunscreen, Exactly?
Take precautions in the sun! If you don't wear sunscreen, you are at the risk of tanning, premature ageing, sunburn, and skin cancer. Sunscreens are a crucial skincare product that protects you from the sun's UVA and UVB radiation.
So what is SPF in sunscreen? SPF, also known as Sun Protection Factor, is a metric of how well a sunscreen can protect the skin from UVB rays, which causes sunburn, skin damage, and can contribute to skin cancer.
How Does SPF Work?
SPF in sunscreen indicates the time length your skin will be protected from sunburn. There are different skin types and may have varying results from sun exposure. So basically an SPF is only a guide to its level of protection. So now that you know what is SPF in sunscreen, let us help you with how it works.
The active ingredients in the sunscreen protect your skin by reflecting and or absorbing UV rays preventing sun damage. Physical also known as mineral sunscreens work to reflect UV light whereas chemical sunscreens absorb it. The amount of sun’s harmful rays that get filtered depends on the level of SPF you apply. Depending on the location and time of the year, your skin type and concern, the time it takes for your skin to begin getting burned is between 5 to 30 minutes on an average level.
Sunscreen SPF 15 means it blocks 93% of UVB rays
SPF 30 sunscreen blocks 96.7% of UVB rays
SPF 50 blocks 98% UVB rays
SPF 100 blocks 99% UVB rays
Also, some other factors affect the level of protection on your skin:
Quantity of sunscreen
Weather conditions
How much you sweat
If you’ve put on a hat, sunglass or any protective clothing
Amount and time of sun exposure
Your skin type
Which SPF Should you use?
The SPF number in your sunscreen should be at least 30 or more and chosen, depending on your skin type, the way you apply it and your amount and time of sun exposure.
How to apply SPF?
After you’ve known what is SPF in sunscreen and how it works, now is the time to learn how to apply it. Proper application of sunscreen is really important for protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. When applying sunscreen, you should completely cover uncovered areas of your skin and frequently apply it every 2 hours for better protection. The sunscreen amount for full body coverage also differs depending on age range:
Under 3 years old: Babies under 3 years of age should use 5 to 10 ML of sunscreen but you should also keep them out of direct sunlight at all times and in the shade.
Children(3 to 5): This age group requires 10-15 ML of sunscreen to keep your young ones safe.
Children(5 to 10): This age group requires at least 15-20 ML sunscreen.
Adults: If you’re an adult, choose a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 or more for full body protection.
Always use sunscreen 20-30 minutes before your skin gets exposed to the sun as the skin needs time to absorb the SPF. Below are the steps on how to apply sunscreen on your face:
Take the required amount of sunscreen and apply it on all exposed skin areas including your neck, shoulders, back, legs and chest area.
Rub it gently, thickly and thoroughly into your skin so that it gets absorbed completely.
This Is What The SPF Number Really Means
What is SPF in sunscreen? It is an abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor. What exactly does it measure? The level of UVB protection provided by a sun protection product is determined by its SPF. SPF creams come in a variety of ranges, including SPF 15, SPF 30, SPF 50, and more. This is how they work:
- Sunscreen SPF 15 means to block around 93% of UVB radiation
- SPF 30 sunscreen prevents approximately 97% of UVB radiation
- SPF 50 sunscreen filters out nearly 98 percent of UVB radiation
Consider it this way. If you use an SPF 50 sunscreen, it will take you 50 times longer to get sunburned than if you do not use sunscreen. A greater SPF range prevents more damaging UVB rays from penetrating than a lower SPF range can. As a result, a higher SPF means better sun protection and fewer skin damage.
Wondering How Does SPF Work On Our Skin?
UVB rays are known to cause epidermal damage (outer layers of the skin). UVA rays penetrate the skin to the dermal layers. To protect the skin, SPF in sunscreen absorbs or reflects these radiation.
These Are The Best Sunscreens That’ll Save Your Face This Summer
Manish Malhotra Sandalwood SPF 25 Gel
Reach out for this sandalwood-infused product if the weather has left your delicate skin dry and flaky. For all the good reasons, the potent ingredients not only rapidly hydrate and plump up the face but also smooth the appearance of wrinkles over time. It's no surprise that it's an all-time favourite appreciated by individuals of all skin types. Add this to your shopping cart if you want to tighten and brighten your skin.
MyGlamm Superfood Kiwi & Coconut Sunscreen
Many people have told us that they don't wear sunscreen because it interferes with their makeup. Justifications! Introducing the best sunscreen, which not only feels great on the skin but also serves as a primer, making your makeup appear even better! This product moisturises your skin while protecting it from the sun with SPF 30 Pa++.
Oriental Botanics Nature’s Brightening Vitamin C Sunscreen
For our no-makeup makeup days, we're fascinated with this ultra-sheer vitamin C-infused sunscreen. When your overall purpose is to have skin that shines so brightly and gives the sun a run for its money, this SPF mix is the skincare product to help you get there.
Buy It Here
POPxo H2O Booster Sunscreen Gel SPF 30 PA+++
If your skin is dry or you require a sunscreen that is suitable for oily skin, the POPxo H2O Booster Sunscreen Gel is ideal. This lightweight water gel solution offers bright, rejuvenated skin that is sun-protected. It offers a broad spectrum SPF 30 protection that goes above and beyond in protecting your skin from dangerous UVA and UVB radiation. This gel leaves no white cast, only hydrated and healthy skin.
FAQ
Do High SPF Sunscreens Provide More Protection?
Under ideal conditions (such as in scorching heat and on a hot summer day), a sunscreen with a higher SPF and broad-spectrum coverage protects against sunburn, UVA damage, and DNA damage more effectively than comparable products at the lowest possible.
Is SPF 50 Better Than SPF 30?
A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will protect you against around 96.7 percent of UVB rays, whereas an SPF of 50 will protect you from approximately 98 percent of UVB rays. Anything above SPF 50 makes little difference in terms of sun damage risk. Additionally, no sunscreen provides 100 percent UVB protection.
Which SPF Is The Best For Oily Skin?
If you have an oily complexion and a greasy T-zone is your worst nightmare, you need to reach out for a mattifying, non-pore clogging sunscreen that not only protects against UVA and UVB radiation, but also prevents an oil slick on your face.
How Much SPF is Good For Indian Skin Type?
Sunscreens gels and creams that contain SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 20 to 35 are the best suited for Indian skin types.
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Sunscreen for combination skin:
If you’ve got a combination skin type, you need to make sure to pick the right sunscreen for it. Here’s a list of a few recommendations of sunscreens for combinations skin types that’ll suit you perfectly.
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So now if anyone asks you what is SPF in sunscreen, you can tell them it is the best BFF for the skin!
