Sun. Summer. Sun care, Sunscreen. SPF. These “S” words go hand in hand with one another. But sunscreen isn’t just for those summer days outside. UV rays can enter through your windows, while UV rays from digital screens can also cause skin damage.
Protecting your skin from these harmful rays, whether on a cloudy or rainy day or when you’re staying indoors, is super important. We cannot reiterate this enough – exposure to the sun is one of the fastest ways to age your skin.
If you are not already wearing sunscreen daily, keep reading to learn why it’s important and how to get started.
SPF Explained
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let us first clarify what SPF stands for. SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor and indicates the level of protection a product offers from the sun’s harmful UV rays. But it’s important to know that sunscreen is just a filter – it does not block all UV rays. Even with proper sunscreen use, some UV rays still get through.
UVA and UVB protection
An easy way to differentiate between UVA and UVB rays is by remembering: UVA(ageing) and UVB(burning). While both rays have similarities, such as causing burns and premature ageing, UVA rays are primarily responsible for wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots, while UVB rays play a greater role in causing skin cancers.
The Magic Number
It is rare to find a sunscreen with an SPF lower than 15, and for a very good reason: They simply do not provide adequate sun protection. The SPF determines how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, after 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure, your skin starts to burn. If you use SPF 15, your skin will take 15 times longer to burn; with SPF 30, it will take 30 times longer, and so on.
UVB rays are also stronger in the afternoon and weaker in the early morning and evening. So, even if you wear SPF 30 all day, it’ll take longer to burn in the early morning than in the early afternoon!
SPF 30 blocks nearly 97% of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks about 98%. Most dermatologists recommend using an SPF 30 or higher. But one would think the higher the SPF, the better, right? Not necessarily. The catch is that the higher the SPF, the less pleasant it is on your skin, as the UV filters used in the product are often oily. If you don’t enjoy the sunscreen on your face, you are less likely to wear it daily like you should.
Fact or Myth?
Make-up with an SPF is enough to protect the face.
This is a MYTH! Although most foundations contain SPF15, it is not enough to protect your skin against the damaging effects of UV radiation. UV depletes the skin of vitamin A and essential nutrients. Also, remember that no sunscreen effectively blocks UV rays completely, so even if you are wearing a make-up foundation with SPF, we still recommend you use at least an SPF 30 sunscreen for safe, effective protection.
You need to wear sunscreen even when indoors.
This is a FACT! Sunscreen is crucial, even if you spend most of your time indoors. Sunlight through the windows and the light released by your laptop or other devices can still harm your skin and speed up ageing.
Sun Care for Everyone
Our Vitant Everyday Sun Care is a non-greasy SPF 30, which provides adequate protection from the harmful sun while still feeling luxurious on your face. It was developed to offer the best daily protection for busy professionals, sporty athletes, and those with sensitive skin – ideal for the whole family!
“Invest in good sun care and protect your and your family’s skin by applying sunscreen as part of your morning skincare ritual. It can be re-applied throughout the day!”