You’re surely dreaming of some beautiful beach, or maybe you’re planning to spend some time near a lake, to relax while you sunbathe. No matter where you go on the next sunny days, there’s one essential item you mustn’t forget: your best SPF sunscreen to keep your skin protected.
We all know by now that the ultraviolet rays of the sun damage our skin, so if you want to keep your skin glowing, healthy and ageless, you should always protect the skin with the best SPF, even on cloudy days, let alone during summertime!
But how to choose the best SPF sunscreen for your skin?
As the experts at the Skin Cancer Foundation explain, there are two types of harmful sun rays; UVB rays, which cause sunburn and can cause cancer, and UVA rays, which cause skin ageing and wrinkles.
The SPF number (sun protection factor) on your lotion’s label refers to the amount of protection against UVB rays the sunscreen has, which means, how long you can stay under the sun without your skin getting burned compared to without any sunscreen. The best is to look for a sunscreen that is SPF 30 to 50. And how about the UVA? It is essential to choose sunscreens that are “Broad-spectrum”; they protect your skin against both UVB and UVA rays. If you are at the beach, lake or pool, better use a water-resistant lotion, apply it 30 minutes before going out in the sun. And reapply the sunscreen after swimming or sweating, and every two hours.
Read How much SPF we need: Myths and Reality to know more about it.
How to best use SPF to protect your skin and avoid a sunburn
Be careful. Even the best sunscreen with high SPF can’t protect your skin if you stay too long in the sun. You may damage your skin, even when wearing sunscreen. So, don’t forget to avoid the hottest hours of the day. Additionally, reapply the sun lotion frequently and wear a hat and sunglasses; otherwise, you may end up looking like a tomato. Not to mention such a painful sunburn you won’t even be able to get dressed after the shower, missing out on all the after-beach fun! Believe me; been there, done that.
With so many sunscreens available on the market, there’s one for each taste and each pocket, so you have no excuse to protect your skin!
To help you find the best SPF sunscreen, here’s a list of our favourite ones, your skin deserves it!
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Photo by Ryan Christodoulou on Unsplash