Should I use SPF 30 or 50 on my face?
It is generally recommended that most people and skin types use an SPF 30 at the very least all year round. With what science has taught us about the damaging effects of the sun's rays and the increased risk of skin cancer, the protection provided by SPF 15 just doesn't cut it.
Experts say sunscreens with an SPF higher than 50 aren't worth buying. They only offer marginally better protection. They might also encourage you to stay out in the sun longer. Instead, choose an SPF between 15 and 50, apply liberally, and reapply often.
The difference between a SPF 40 is you block out 97.5% of UVB radiation and SPF 50 blocks 98%. This is a very small difference for the cost of purchasing a SPF 50. More important than using a super high SPF is using enough sunscreen.
The SPF rating only refers to UVB rays. An SPF 15 sunscreen blocks 93% of UVB radiation, and SPF 30 blocks 97%. After that, the difference in protection is small. SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 stops 99% of UVB rays from reaching your skin.
Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's UVB rays, but no sunscreen can block 100% of the sun's UVB rays.
Technically, yes. With SPF 50, 2% of UV rays are able to penetrate the skin. That's how you're still able to get a tan even with a high SPF. So in order to prevent yourself from sun damage, you need to reapply at least every two hours.
Bailey suggests choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. “With less than that, in an SPF 15, you're blocking about 93 percent of the UVB,” she says. “At SPF 30, you're blocking 97 percent, and at SPF 50, you're blocking 98 percent. When you get up to 30, you're pretty much there.”
If you have dry skin, look for sunscreen with a moisturiser or sunscreens that contain hydrating ingredients (ceramides or hyaluronic acid). If you have an oily skin type, creamy sunscreens can usually feel sticky and heavy.
For day-to-day use, pick a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you spend time outdoors, choose a product with SPF 60 or greater. In reality, most people do not use as much sunscreen as they should, and this higher SPF helps compensate for the reduced application.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 3% of UVB rays can enter your skin with SPF 30, and 2% with SPF 50. This is also how you can still get tan while wearing sunscreen. For the best protection, it's recommended that you choose a water-resistant sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 or higher every day.
Does SPF 50 mean you have to put it on every 50 min?
It's much easier for people to understand the need to reapply at least every 2 hours. You should reapply every 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating, depending on the product.
"Individuals with fair skin and hair, light-coloured eyes, freckles and moles are at highest risk of skin damage and should always use a minimum factor of 30 or 50," explains London-based consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Kluk, something Dr Mahto elaborates on.
A sunscreen's sun protection factor (SPF) is only fully effective for two hours after you put it on. Experts recommend carrying a bottle of SPF 30 to SPF 50 sunscreen around with you, even on cloudy or rainy summer days, so you can throw some on if the sun comes out.
When used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values between 30 and 50 offers adequate sunburn protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn. High SPF products may pose greater health risks. High SPF products require higher concentrations of sun-filtering chemicals than low SPF sunscreens do.
Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin, age it prematurely, and increase your risk of skin cancer. Most sunscreens with an SPF 60+ & above do an excellent job of protecting against UVB.
Protection isn't much better than low-SPF sunscreens
Building off of our last point, SPF 100 blocks about 99% of UVB radiation while SPF 50 blocks around 98%. Meaning that despite having twice as much SPF, it's only 1% more effective. There's not as much of a difference in protection as you'd think!
- Best Sunscreen Overall: CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 50.
- Best Face Sunscreen: EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen SPF 46.
- Best Sunscreen For Sensitive Skin: Beautycounter Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30.
- Best Mineral Sunscreen: Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50.
The protection factor of SPF 30 is not double that of SPF 15, nor is SPF 60 twice as effective as SPF 30…… The rationale behind this myth is that if SPF 30 can filter out 96.7% of UV rays, while SPF 60 can filter out 98.3%, the resulting difference is only 1.6% - thus SPF 60 must only be marginally better than SPF 30.
- Best Overall - Himalaya Herbals Protective Sunscreen Lotion. ...
- Best Budget - The Derma Co Hyaluronic Sunscreen. ...
- Best Sunscreen For Men - Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ Sunscreen.
Sunscreen will cause hyperpigmentation if it has any one of these effects. If the sunscreen you wear stresses your skin (some chemical sunscreens can do this), it may cause skin darkening. Secondly, if you use sunscreen that has hormonally-active ingredients (like oxybenzone), it can cause hormonal skin darkening.
What is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock?
So the main difference in sunscreen and sunblock lies is the way they protect the skin from UV rays. Sunblock is so named because it literally blocks UV rays by forming a physical shield, while a sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb UV rays before your skin can.
While sunscreen protects against sunburns and skin cancer, there is another benefit: It helps reduce signs of skin aging. Evidence shows that using sunscreen every day helps slow down the skin's aging process.
With the rule of nines, the body's surface area is divided into 11 areas, each representing roughly 9% of the total (box). Sunscreen can be applied to each of these areas at a dose of 2 mg/cm2 if two strips of sunscreen are squeezed out on to both the index and middle fingers from the palmar crease to the fingertips.
- Walgreens Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100.
- Panama Jack Sunscreen Continuous Spray, SPF 100.
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 85+
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 100+
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 100+
- Get UVA and UVB protection. Always opt for a sunscreen that provides both UVA and UVB protection. ...
- Choose SPF 30 or higher. ...
- Apply sunscreen early — and liberally. ...
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours. ...
- Don't rely on sunscreen alone.
There are two types of sunscreens: mineral and chemical. Each type uses a different mechanism for filtering UV rays and protecting the skin from damage.
You don't have to put on moisturizer before sunscreen, however, you really should if you care about the over health of your skin and keeping signs of aging at bay. If you are going to use both moisturizer and sunscreen in your skincare routine, putting it on before your mineral sunscreen is best.
Men, women and children over 6 months of age should use sunscreen every day. This includes people who tan easily and those who don't — remember, your skin is damaged by sun exposure over your lifetime, whether or not you burn. Babies under the age of 6 months are the only exceptions; their skin is highly sensitive.
Use a sunscreen or sun block with a minimum of SPF 30. Sunscreen or sun block needs to be re-applied at least every two hours, more often if you are sweating heavily or spending time in the water.
Usually, you can rely on your sunscreen for protection for up to two hours. However, your sunscreen will only last about 40 to 80 minutes with water (or sweat) exposure.
How long do you have to be in the sun to tan with SPF 50?
You can, however, tan while wearing sunscreen. According to ABC Australia, if your unprotected skin would take 10 minutes to show signs of burning, properly applying SPF 50 sunscreen would extend this rate by 50 times – meaning you could sit in the sun for 500 minutes before burning.
But there's a bigger reason why you need to reapply your sunscreen every couple of hours. “Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and disperse them, but the active ingredients don't stay on the skin and continue doing their job,” says dermatologist Anthony Rossi.
"In the winter, if you are out in bright but cold climates, such as when skiing, opt for SPF50 minimum, as UV rays reflect off surfaces such as snow and water, and reapply regularly as you would in the summer.” With that in mind, below are the best sunscreens you can buy right now to protect your skin this winter.
Longer protection: SPF 50 sunscreens can protect your skin for longer, which means you have to reapply less often. Many SPF 50 sunscreens recommend reapplying every 150 minutes rather than the recommended 120 minutes for SPF 30.
Is SPF 30 or 50 better for your face? According to both the EWG and the Skin Cancer Foundation, SPF 30 blocks nearly 97% of UVB radiation while SPF 50 blocks about 98% and SPF 100 blocks about 99%. 31%. So technically speaking, SPF 50 is the best facial SPF... but only marginally.
A sunscreen's sun protection factor (SPF) is only fully effective for two hours after you put it on. Experts recommend carrying a bottle of SPF 30 to SPF 50 sunscreen around with you, even on cloudy or rainy summer days, so you can throw some on if the sun comes out.
Products with SPF 100 have very high levels of active sunscreen ingredients, namely avobenzone—the only soluble UVA filter—and other soluble UVB filters categorized by the FDA as "not generally regarded as safe of effective," says Dr. Denis Dudley, co-founder of The Sunscreen Company.
Check the SPF.
Chose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, which blocks 97 percent of the sun's UVB rays.
Wearing sunscreen every day on exposed skin, like your face, ears, and back of the hands is a good idea to protect you from UV damage.
Broad spectrum sunscreens and sun blocks protect against both UVA and UVB rays, so be sure to look for these. Use a sunscreen or sun block with a minimum of SPF 30. Sunscreen or sun block needs to be re-applied at least every two hours, more often if you are sweating heavily or spending time in the water.
Is SPF 30 too strong?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97% of the sun's UVB rays. The highest SPF is 100 and blocks out 99% of UVB rays. But experts don't necessarily think SPF 100 sunscreen is the best choice.