With the kiddos out of school, and the need to entertain them at an all-time high, you might find yourself outside more and more. And while the outdoor air and hot summer sun have been shown to bring a welcome boost to your mental health, when unprotected, the damaging UV rays have also been shown to cause detrimental effects to your skin.
The best way to circumvent this is by using a great summer SPF to protect yourself and your family. But with so many products on the market with different ingredients, sizes, and objectives, it can be hard to decide which is right for you. So, in this blog, we’ll discuss the five things you need to know about summer SPF to find the one that’s right for you!
The sun gives off both UVA and UVB rays. The former is known to cause premature aging, while the latter is typically what’s responsible for physical sunburns. This is why, when purchasing summer SPF, you’ll want to look for a product that markets for “UVA/UVB protection” or says “broad-spectrum” on their labeling rather than one that focuses on just one singular ray.
But to ease your worries, it’s important to note that most dermatologists use SPF 30 as the foundational level for any UVA/UVB protection. SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks about 97%. However, if you or your family members have fairer or more sensitive skin prone to sunburn, you may opt for an SPF50 product like this Mineral Sunscreen Lotion created by our client Mustela!
This means those small bottles on the Target shelf should only be used as a backup in your makeup essentials bag! As you should wear sunscreen all year long and not just in the summer months when the sun is most aggressive, you should focus on getting product sizes that will last!
While you can read the labeling for instructions on individual products, typically, sunscreen should be applied every 2 hours. So don’t leave home without it, and set a timer to re-up throughout your day!