Summer is officially here! And to protect our skin from damage, we should use sun protection products that are dermatologically tested to be safe for use even on children's sensitive skin. Depending on your activity and how long you will be exposed to the sun, it might also be necessary to apply sun protection more than once.
When buying sun protection products, you will always see on the packaging the label "SPF 15" for example. What does this mean? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and indicates how much protection a product offers against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) B rays. The UVB rays is what causes your skin to redden, darken or get a sunburn. The SPF ratings are determined in a laboratory. The higher the number of the SPF, the better protection you have. For example, SPF 50 products are estimated to allow 1/50 of the sun’s burning rays to get through to the skin (protects against approximately 98% of the sun’s burning rays). SPF-100 products are estimated to allow 1/100 of the sun’s burning rays to get through to the skin (protects against approximately 99% of the sun’s burning rays). Actual protection may vary and will depend on the user applying adequate amounts.
Depending on your skin tone and how long you will have sun exposure, this chart will help guide you on your choice of SPF number.
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| Source: bananaboat.com/sun-safety/spf-chart |
Although I have a light to medium skin tone, I always use SPF 30 - 50 in the summer where the sun shines longer here in Europe. Whenever we go out to take hikes or go swimming in the lake in open pools, I make sure that we reapply after a few hours so we prevent the risk of getting a sunburn. But it is not only in summer where you should use sun protection products because at any given season and any given time, your skin will always be exposed to the sun's harmful rays. So if you know that you will be exposed to the sun for an outdoor activity, be sure to apply your favorite sunscreen product before you hit the road.
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