What’s Your SPF?

When the world starts warming up again, and people begin to spend more of their time outside soaking up the sunshine, it’s important to reiterate the importance of wearing sunscreen. Sure, we all know that it is imperative to keeping our skin—and ultimately our entire selves—healthy, but really understanding the need to apply sunscreen is something else.

We found a few facts via a Huffington Post article about the importance of sunscreen.

• The ozone layer is depleting. What does that mean? The ozone is the Earth’s protective layer, and as it deteriorates, harmful ultraviolet B radiation is getting through, thus putting our skin at risk. Sunscreen can help protect against those hurtful rays.
• Sunscreen also helps prevent those unwanted facial brown spots and skin discolorations that so often come with spending time out in the sun unprotected.
• It helps reduce the appearance of facial red veins and blotchiness, helping us maintain a healthy glow about our faces.
• It keeps wrinkles and premature skin aging at bay.

It’s no question that we all want to be protected from those things, and the good news is that we can. All we have to do is apply sunscreen (repeatedly for those of us who plan to spend hours out in the sun), and we’ll see the results in the long run.

So what do we need to know about buying sunscreen? We want it to be an effective application, so paying attention to what’s on the shelves is also important.

• When buying, make sure the sunscreen protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays, and the SPF is at least 15.
• Waterproof sunscreen is critical for those who plan on swimming or sweating.
• Find a special formula for the face
• Be mindful of expiration dates. If a sunscreen is past it’s date, the ingredients may have started to break down, making the protection less effective.

Other tips about sunscreen:

• You should apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you head out into the sunshine.
• Reapply every 2 hours, or after you go for a swim or have sweated.
• A more expensive sunscreen does not always mean that it’s better.
• Spray-on sunscreen is great for the reapplication process, especially for the outdoor enthusiasts, and for those who would rather not have lotion on their hands.
• Sunscreen should be worn daily, and you should use at least an SPF 15.
• Fifteen minutes is all it takes to increase the likelihood of skin damage. Lather up!
• Even with applying sunscreen to your face, wear a hat to keep your face shaded.

Enjoy your time out in the sun, but make sure you do it safely! You—and your skin—will appreciate it.