5 Things You Need to Know About Summer SPF

Ekwani Consulting
  


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!

 

There’s More Than One Kind

The first thing you need to know about summer SPF is that because the sun gives off more than one type of ultraviolet ray, you’ll need a product that protects you from both if you plan to spend lots of time outdoors.
 

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.

 

You’ll Need It for Indoors and Outdoors

This one may come as a surprise, but UVA rays are known to pass through windows. So even if you manage to keep the kiddos occupied indoors, you’ll want to have a summer spf on hand that can protect you from UVA rays that could come through from a window or door in your home. In this case, a UVA-only summer SPF will be just fine!  
 

You Have to Find One That’s Right for You

If you’ve been shopping for summer SPF, you may have seen some numbers on the bottle that confused you. With things like SPF 15, 30, or 50 on the market, deciding which is right for you can be tricky.
 

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!

 

You Need More Than You Think

The next round of advice is something that many tend to overlook, and it’s that you need to wear more SPF than you may think is necessary! Typically, experts suggest “putting one ounce of sunscreen on your entire body, or enough to fill one shot glass. Then, add .04 ounces of sunscreen on your face, or enough to fill just the bottom of a shot glass.”
 

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!

 

One Application Isn’t Enough

Once you’ve figured out which summer SPF is perfect for you and have applied the ideal amount, you’ll want to remember that this isn’t a one-and-done situation!
  

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!

 

Enjoy the Sun and Have Fun!

By no means should the summer sun deter you from enjoying your summer. Instead, by arming yourself with information and discovering the right summer SPF for you and your family, you should be able to make it one to remember!

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