The throws of summer are almost behind us but apparently it’s not quite over yet, as there’s a rumour that a heatwave is on the way. So while the sun continues to shine for a little while longer and you still require something cool to slip into, you should first be thinking of what your skin should be wearing so it too, is ready to go.
With the temperatures set to stay for a bit, your SPF should still be taking up the prime spot on the bathroom shelf. You may be surprised to know that not only does a medical grade SPF help protect your skin, it will also contribute to enhanced hydration. Great skincare doesn’t start with wrinkle cream or moisturiser, it starts with SPF.
As beautiful as the sunshine may be, and as much as we love to feel it’s warm soothing rays against our face, at the same time it is the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing. The sun is renowned for causing stress to our skin and whilst we’re all familiar with the UV rays, what many of us don’t know is that there are two types of UV ray:
● UVA rays – which cause burning and surface skin damage like wrinkles and pigmentation
● UVB rays – affecting not just the surface of the skin but right into the deeper layers, causing irreparable damage from premature ageing to cancer.
So the benefits of spending just a few seconds in the morning to apply a high quality SPF (whatever the season) are numerous; promoting healthy skin for the long term. You may be wondering how that one small choice can make such a big difference. Well, this is how SPF works and what it means to be factor 30 or factor 50.
Let’s start with the big F – Factor.
There’s a super simple equation for the factors and what they mean to your skin. Factor 30 for example, simply means that it takes 30 times longer for the skin to start to redden (if applied as directed) as opposed to having no sunscreen at all, and the same is said for Factor 50 and so-forth. So that’s the easy bit – now onto the difference this makes to your skin. A Factor 30 SPF will allow approx 3% of the sun’s rays to penetrate the skin and a Factor 50 will allow about 2%. This difference may seem menial, however in real terms, that 1% difference actually equates to an additional 50% more penetration with Factor 30 than with Factor 50. That’s why we always recommend that you step it up and think ‘nifty fifty’ when it comes to sunscreen. At this point, it’s very easy to slather on the SPF and feel a false sense of security as we pop it back on the bathroom shelf for the rest of the day – the key to keeping our skin safe in the sun is re-application.
Fun Fact:
An easy way to remember how much sunscreen to apply, is the “Spoon & Glass” method; One teaspoon for your face and neck, and a shot glass full for everywhere else! Easy!
Remember – SPF doesn’t last all day, so wherever the first steps of your day may take you, be that down to the patisserie for a skinny latte or morning cup of tea in the garden, there’s one important thing to remember before you embroil yourself in the wonder of a beautiful
sunny day – your skin. Be sure to pop your SPF in your bag and treat it like the liquid gold that it is – it’s precious; so is your skin and so are you.
